San Nicolò (1304)

In 1263, Bishop Bartolomeo Accorambi gave the ancient church of San Nicolò da Bari here to a community of Augustinian hermits, who moved from what is now San Salvatore.  They subsequently acquired the adjacent church of San Massimo from the canons of San Gregorio Maggiore and other houses nearby. 

All of these properties were demolished to make way for a new church and convent.  The foundation stone of the present church, which is formally dedicated as Santi Agostino, Nicolò e Massimo, was laid in 1304.

The relics of Blessed Christina Semenzi (died 458), which were preserved under the Altare di San Michele here, were subsequently moved to San Gregorio Maggiore.

The friars' convent became the most important centre of learning in Spoleto and had an extensive library.  Martin Luther is reputed to have stayed here in 1512.  

The convent declined considerably in the 17th century and was damaged when it was used as a barracks by Spanish soldiers in 1745.  Further damage occurred in the earthquake of 1767.  The complex was suppressed in 1798.  (The friars moved to the Collegio della Madonna di Loreto, and managed to stay there until 1860).

The campanile (15th century) was demolished in 1873.

The complex had a variety of secular uses until its restoration in 1967.  It now hosts major conferences on a regular basis and occasionally provides a venue for the annual the Festival dei Due Mondi.

Exterior

The fine polygonal apse of the church penetrates the remains of the city walls in Via Cecili.

The church of Santa Maria della Misericordia, which  is under the tribune of San Nicolò, originally had its own entrance in Via Cecili.  This church belonged to the Confraternita della Misercordia.

The austere facade has lost its original rose window.  An inscription below, "MATARITTAS D' AGUSTINU" might record the name of its designer.

Its portal however is extremely ornate.  The fresco (1412) in the lunette, which is dated by inscription, was restroed in 1969.  It is attributed to the Maestro della Dormitio di Terni and depicts the Madonna with SS Augustine and Nicholas of Tolentino.

The cloister to the left of the church was also restored in 1967.

Return to Walk I.