San Paolo inter Vineas

(10th century)


This is probably the site of the church of San Paolo in Spoleto that is mentioned in the late 6th century in the Dialogues of Pope Gregory I.  Pope Gregory's source was the monk Boniface, who had fled from Spoleto to Gregory's monastery of Sant' Andrea in Rome at the accession of the Lombard Duke Ariulf in ca. 591.  His account tells of an Arian priest who demanded access to the church.  Its keeper locked himself inside, but when the Arian priest persisted, the doors flew open, lights appeared from Heaven and he was blinded. 

The earliest reference to the present church, which was known as San Paolo inter Vineas (in the vineyard), dates to 1007, when Bishop Lupo gave it to the Abbess Berta so that she could establish a nunnery.  The Bishop of Spoleto claimed jurisdiction over San Paolo during the reign of Pope Innocent III (1198-1216), but the papal legate ruled in the nuns' favour and the community was placed under papal protection.

In 1219, Cardinal Ugolino, the papal legate in Lombardy, Tuscany and Umbria and future Pope Gregory IX, imposed a new form of life upon the nuns  of San Paolo and other "poor cloistered communities" of women who had hitherto followed no particular rule.  The most prominent of these communities was that of the future St Clare and her sisters at San Damiano, Assisi, and the new order became known as the Poor Ladies of San Damiano (later the Poor Clares or second Order of St Francis). 

This marked the start of an important era in the history of the complex:

  • Abbess Ugolina rebuilt the convent and restored the church some time before 1226. 
  • In 1228, a few months after his elevation, Pope Gregory IX appointed Cardinal Rinaldo dei Conti Segni (his nephew and the future Pope Alexander IV) as Cardinal Protector of the Poor Ladies: San Paolo was among the twenty nunneries to which the Cardinal addressed his letter of introduction.
  • In 1234, Pope Gregory IX re-consecrated the church and gave the nuns a number of precious relics and other gifts.   (The relics were subsequently enclosed in painted reliquaries and are now exhibited in Room 11 of the Museo del Ducato di Spoleto).

There were close links between the Poor Ladies of San Paolo and the Franciscan friars at Sant' Elia, who officiated at their services and provided financial assistance.  The friars generally were absolved of their responsibility for the Franciscan nuns from 1245 but this did not affect the situation in Spoleto.  Indeed, in 1254 Pope Alexander IV gave the nuns a derogation from clausura so that the friars could help them in relation to the fabric of the church and convent.

In 1395 the nuns left for Sant’ Agata within the city walls, and the convent remained empty until a community of Observant Franciscans acquired it in 1454. 

The interior was completely re-modeled in 1771 and the campanile was rebuilt in 1825.  The interior was restored to something like its original appearance in 1953-65. 

Exterior

Cloister  - columns (10th century)?

The apse seems to be older than the rest of the church.

The facade is in a single order with pilasters that articulate the nave and two aisles within.  The lovely rose window in the tympanum above has been restored.

Interior  


Colonades of six Corinthian columns separate the nave from the two aisles.  These terminate in triumphal arches that open onto a wide crossing that is punctauted by the shallow, semi-circular apse.

Frescoes (early 13th century)

  


These frescoes high up in the presbytery, which are related to those in the Abbazia di San Pietro in Valle, are thought to be among the oldest in the region.  They were discovered during the recent restoration, detached for restoration and subsequently hung in their original locations. 

The frescoes on the right wall depict:

 
 

  • to the left of the window:

  • the creation of the world and the creation of Adam;

  • God admonishes Adam; and

  • God the Father enthroned between two Cherubs.



  • to the right of the window:

    • Adam names the animals; and

    • the creation of Eve.





The frescoes on the back wall depict the Madonna and Child at the centre with five standing figures of prophets and patriarchs to each side.  The figures to the right (illustrated here) are slightly less damaged and thus more legible than the rest.

SS Lucy and Paul (14th century)

These frescoes are on the right wall of the presbytery.

Annunciation (13th century)

This damaged fresco is on the left wall.

Return the Walk II.