Collegiata di Santa Maria Infraportas

(11th and 12th centuries)


This church, which is the oldest surviving church in Foligno, was first documented in 1207.  It was originally named "Santa Maria Foris Portam", because it stood outside a gate in the early the city walls.  The new walls were built in the 13th century incorporated the campanile of the church, beside which stood the Porta di Santa Maria.  The name of the church was then changed to reflect its position  “between the gates”. 

By the 15th century, Santa Maria had achieved the status of a collegiata, serving the Terziero Inferiore.   Although it has been greatly modified over the centuries, it still preserves its original character. 

An inscription above the portal, which was added at the time of a restoration in 1855,  records the unlikely “fact” that, 58 AD SS Peter and Paul arrived in Foligno with St Crispoltus (whom St Peter had ordained as bishop of Bettona) and that St Peter had celebrated Mass in this earlier church. 

Exterior




The church is now in restoration (January 2008).  A sketch outside shows the facade as it is now (on the left) and a reconstruction of the original appearance of the portico, the facade and the campanile:

  • The present portico still retains four columns (11th century) that might come from an earlier church on the site.  

  • The present bifore window replaced the original rose window.

  • The campanile, which originally formed part of the city wall, was subsequently reduced in height. 

Tabernacle (1480)

This tabernacle is to the right of the facade.

Coronation of the Virgin (15th century)

This sinopia in the tabernacle is attributed to Pierantonio Mezzastris.

Interior

[I have no photographs because the church is closed for restoration.  However, there are a number of illustrations on a website dedicated to the church.]

The pavement inside the church is now substantially below street-level. 

The lateral aisles were added to what was originally the single nave in the 15th century. 

The frescoes on the walls were re-discovered during a restoration in 1928.

Cappella di San Pietro

This chapel, which s also known as the Cappella di Santa Maria Assunta, is to the left of the entrance.  This is the oldest part of the church and contains the original font.  The later font (16th century) is just outside the chapel.

Frescoes (12th century)

The frescoes depict:

  • Christ blessing with SS Peter and Paul above a painted tapestry with lions in tondi, above the altar; and
  • figures of St Michael and of “Dimas latro” (the good thief) ,on the sides of the window in the right wall.

Left Aisle

Madonna del Latte (15th century)

This fresco, which is attributed to Giovanni di Corraduccio, called Mazzaforte, is on the 1st pilaster.

Madonna and Child with St John the Evangelist (1544)

This fresco, which is signed by Ugolino di Gisberto and dated by inscription, is damaged: another figure (probably another Evangelist) was lost when the window to the right was inserted.

Barnabò Madonna (15th century)

This polychrome stucco image of the Madonna and Child is in a marble aedicule in the 2nd pilaster.   The Barnabò family donated the image and the aedicule to the church in 1890. 

Monument to Giovanni d' Accursio (ca. 1380)

This monument (below the Barnabò Madonna) commemorates Prior Giovanni d' Accursio (died 1380).

St Roch with angels (15th century)

This fresco, which is attributed to Pierantonio Mezzastris,  is on the 3rd pilaster.

Right Aisles

St Jerome with angels (15th century)

This fresco, which is attributed to Pierantonio Mezzastris,  is on the pilaster to the right presbytery.

Frescoes of the Crucifixion

The frescoes in the first three niches in the right aisle all depict the Crucifixion with the Virgin and St John the Evangelist:

  • the first is heavily repainted;

  • the second, which is dated by inscription to 1525, is a copy of the third;

  • the third (15th century), in which the donor kneels at the foot of the cross, is attributed to Pierantonio Mezzastris.

Art from the Church

Madonna and Child enthroned (early 13th century)

This polychrome wooden statue is one of the oldest such works to survive in Umbria.  By the time that it was restored in 1962, the figure of the Madonna had already lost its arms, and its head had been damaged by the insertion of pegs to hold a crown.  The figure of the baby Jesus was stolen soon afterwards.  The surviving part of the statue is now in the Museo Capitolare e Diocesano.

Return to Walk II.