San Giacomo di Murorupto

(late 12th century)

Ubertino di Guittone of Assisi paid for a church to be built here in 1088 as part of his penance for murder.  He gave it to the Abbazia di Farfa, along with other lands that would provide an annuity for its upkeep, in return for absolution.  The dedication to St James suggests that Ubertino was also required to make a pilgrimage to Santiago di Compostella. 

The word “Murorupto” arises because the church was built on the ruins of the Roman city wall, part of which survives in the monastery garden. 

The adjoining buildings were used by oblates (lay people who gave their possessions to the church and lived a communal life nearby) in the 11th and 12th centuries.  The present church dates t0 the late 12th century, although the remains of a cloister (11th century) survive along its right wall. 

In 1255, the Abbot of Farfa gave the complex to the sisters of St Clare, and they transferred it to the canons of San Rufino in return for San Giorgio (later Santa Chiara). 

A community of Benedictine nuns from San Donato di Flebulle outside Assisi acquired the site in 1320 but moved here only in 1458.  The community moved to the ex-Monastero di Sant’ Apollinare in 1897.

Frescoes

There are two interesting frescoes by local artists on the left wall, depicting:

• St Catherine of Alexandria (late 14th century); and

• the Madonna and Child (mid 15th century).