San Domenico (13th century)


The Dominicans are first recorded in Spoleto in 1235, when the Blessed James of Bevagna joined their community.  This was only a year after Pope Gregory IX had canonised St Domenic at Rieti: the Bull of canonisation had been issued from Spoleto. 

The future St Peter Martyr stayed with the friars in 1245 when he preached in the city and exhorted the citizens to establish a convent for them.  In 1248, the papal legate, Raniero Capocci afforded them protection and arranged for them to be given a small church on this site.  Traces of this church, which was dedicated to San Salvatore and belonged to San Pietro in Valle, remain under the present campanile.   

Work on the present church began in 1251, the year in which the Dominican Fra. Orlandino preached in Spoleto in an attempt to bring peace to the city.  Pope Alexander VI granted indulgences for those visiting it on the feasts of St Dominic and  St Peter Martyr.  (The latter was murdered by heretics in 11252 and canonised a year later).  The Dominican Bishop Paperonus De Paperonis (1285-90) probably encouraged the work on the church and convent, which was probably complete by the meeting of the Provincial chapter that was held here in 1291. 

The cult of St Peter Martyr was revived in 1391 when he was deemed to have helped the Guelfs to victory against the Ghibellines at Ponte delle Torri.  In 1473, a relic known as the Sacro Chiodo (a nail that had been used in the Crucifixion of Christ) passed to San Domenico (see below)  following the death of its owner, Blessed Gregory of Spoleto.  This relic cured Pope Gregory XIV of a malady when he stayed in the convent in 1591.

The interior of the church was re-modeled in the Baroque style, presumably before its re-consecration by Bishop Lorenzo Castrucci  in 1634. 

Much of the convent was taken from the friars during the French occupation in 1789 and was subsequently used for various educational activities.   The Dominicans were finally expelled in 1915 and the church passed to the Franciscans.  It was restored in 1934-7 by Ugo Tarchi.  

The church is now dedicated as SS Domenico e Francisco and is once more in the hands of the Dominicans.

Exterior 

The church was faced with alternating bands of red and white marble. 

The church has a fine rectangular apse with stained glass windows.  

  • The upper section of the campanile also dates to the 16th century. 
  • The chapels to the sides of the apse were added in the 17th century.

The present façade dates to the late 14th century, when the nave was extended by some 6 metres.   It is possible that its rose window was never completed. 


The Gothic portal on the right wall (illustrated above) has a damaged fresco (16th century) of Christ by Pierino Cesarei in the lunette.  



Interior

The programme of restoration of 1934-7 removed the Baroque decorations and revealed many of the original features, including a number of frescoes (14th and 15th centuries). 

Counter-facade 

Madonna and Child (14th century)

This fresco in the tabernacle above the water stoup, to the left of the entrance, has been heavily repainted.





Left Wall

Communion of St Catherine of Siena (mid-15th century)

This fresco, which is attributed to Bartolomeo da Miranda, is to the left of the Cappella di San Pietro Martire.  Christ flies down to give the Host to St Catherine while two angels (one of which has been lost) hold a crown above her head.  The stigmata on her right hand is clearly visible.


Cappella di San Pietro Martire (1679-80)  

The Commune built this chapel on the left wall on the site of an earlier chapel with the same dedication.  It contains three panels (ca. 1700) depicting scenes from the life of St Peter Martyr, two of which are set in Spoleto (one posthumously):

   
 St Peter Martyr preaching
 in Piazza del Mercato in 1245
Martyrdom of
St Peter Martyr 
 St Peter Martyr defeating
the Ghibellines in 1391
at Ponte delle Torri

Pietà (15th century)

This fresco to the right of the Cappella di San Pietro Martire has been heavily repainted.  It is nevertheless of high quality. 

Left Transept 

St Peter Martyr (14th century)

This panel, which is attributed to the Maestro di Fossa, is in the chapel that is reached by the door on the left wall of the transept (which is used for evening services).  It was probably originally part of a polyptych. 

St Peter is shown against a gold background with a dagger in his shoulder while two angels hold a crown of martyrdom above his head.  A small figure in the Dominican habit kneels to the right.

Cappella Benedetti  (17th century)

Nicolò Benedetti di Montevecchio (died 1638) built this chapel, which houses his funerary monument on the right wall.  The stucco decoration (1669) is signed as the work of Giovanni Fontana da Foligno.

Sacro Chiodo

The gold-plated reliquary (1726) on the altar contains another of silver.  Both reliquaries are th work of the Roman goldsmith Ludovico Barchi.  The silver reliquary contains
a relic known as the Sacro Chiodo (a nail that had been used in the Crucifixion of Christ).  The silver reliquary is exposed for worship each year on Good Friday and on 3rd May.

According to tradition, St Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine recovered the relic in Jerusalem in the 4th century.  She threw it into the Adriatic to still a terrible storm that threatened to wreck the ship on which she returned to Italy.  It was found on the Adriatic coast by Blessed Gregory of Spoleto, and found its way to San Domenico after his death in 1473.  It apparently cured Pope Gregory XIV of a malady when he stayed in the convent in 1591.  (The cure was short-lived and he died shortly afterwards).

The steps on the left of this chapel lead to the ex-church of San Pietro Martire, which originally had its own entrance.

Capture of Christ (1574)

This altarpiece on the left wall is attributed to Cesare Nebbia.  

Apse  

The Gothic windows in the apse were restored and their stained glass installed as part of the restoration of 1934-7.





Crucifix  (14th century)

This fine painted wooden Crucifix is above the high altar.  A tiny figure of St Dominic (difficult to see) kneels at the foot of the cross.





Frescoes (mostly 14th century)

These frescoes just above floor level include: 

  • on the left:

    • St Peter Martyr;

    • the Madonna and Child enthroned; and

    • the Pietà;


  • and on the right:

    • St Peter Martyr (dated by inscription 142…); and

    • Madonna del Latte

flanked by two female saints.

[Madonna and Child with SS Hyacinth and Brictius and souls in limbo - high up on the right]

Cappella Collicola

This chapel is to the right of the apse. 

[Monument (17th century) to Taddeo Collicola, the doctor of Pope Urban  VIII and founder of the family's fortunes.]

Cappella della Maddalena (15th century) 

This chapel was built to the right of Cappella Collicola.  The original frescoes (early 15th century) survive, although some are damaged.

Christ in glory

This lovely fresco is on the barrel vault.

Crucifixion

This fresco is on the back wall.   Among the many witnesses, St Mary Magdalene kneels at the foot of the cross.

Scenes from the Life of St Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem

These include in the upper register of the left wall depict:

  • the raising of Lazarus (the brother of St Mary Magdalene); and
  • the "Noli me tangere" (illustrated), when the Risen Christ appeared to St Mary Magdalene but would not allow her to touch Him.

Scenes from the Life of St Mary Magdalene in Marseilles

These scenes depict:

  • the flight of St Mary Magdalene to Marseille, with St Maximinus (to who St Peter had entrusted her), the risen Lazarus and other companions (in the upper register of the left wall); and
  • St Mary Magdalene preaching in the city (in the upper register of the right wall).

Miracle of the Governor of Marseille

In this story from the "Golden Legend", St Mary Magdalene converted the Govenor of Marseille and he then went on a pilgrimage to Rome.  His wife died on the way and her grieving husband buried her on an island before continuing to Rome.  There St Peter told him to trust in God, and on his return journey  he duly found his wife alive in the place that he had left her body.  When they arrived in Marseille, St Maximinus baptised them.

The cycle begins in the upper register of the right wall and then continues in the lower register of both walls.

 
 The Prince of Marseilles meets St Peter
 St Maximillian baptises the Prince and
Princess at the behest of St Mary Magdalene

Right Transept 

Madonna and Child with saints (17th century)

This altarpiece, which is signed by Giovanni Lanfranco, on the altar (1630) on the back wall of the transept.   This altar belonged to the Sansi family.

  • The main panel depicts the Madonna and Child in glory with St Anne and (below) SS Catherine of Siena, Catherine of Alexandria and Helen.  The latter holds a large cross that the baby Jesus reaches towards. 
  • The smaller upper panel, which depicts God the Father, is probably a workshop production.

Madonna and Child (15th century)

This fresco is in a niche on the right wall of the transept. 

Right Wall

Transfiguration [date] 

This panel, which is attributed to Giuseppe Cesari, the Cavalier d' Arpino was originally on an altar in the left aisle that was demolished in 1934.  It is a copy of the Transfigration (1516) by Raphael, which is now in the Pinacoteca Vaticana.



St Thomas Aquinas Enthroned (early 15th century)

This fresco is on the first altar on the right.  An interesting group of bishops, religious and lay people engage in an animated discussion below. 






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