Chiesa di Sant'Agata
Chiesa di Sant'Agata
4.5
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Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,166 contributions
Jun 2023
The church of St Agatha is so old that its earliest history is barely known. The building we see here today dates to around 1317 but it replaced an earlier church.
It's easy to walk right past St Agatha's and not notice it, partly because it is quite plain, partly because the entrance does not face onto the main street (via dei Priori) and partly because it is often shut.
What caught my eye was a small but brightly coloured painting of St Agatha, as a delicate and beautiful young woman next to the arched entry doors.
Inside, are ancient and faded frescoes that look much, much older than those we’d seen elsewhere.
The most unusual one shows a three-headed Jesus (near the door, on the right hand side). It is a rare reference to the concept of the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Later, theologians would find this image disturbing and were troubled by it’s association with beasts and the devil. In 1628, Pope Urban VIII banned it altogether. Few remain because they were either removed, burnt or sometimes cascading hair was painted to hide the offending side faces.
Above the altar, is a scene of the Crucifixion, painted some time between 1319 and 1333.
A lot of work seems to be going on to uncover and restore the frescoes which have been buried under plaster. It was interesting to see sections of plaster which have been cut away, exposing glimpses of colour from long-lost paintings which lie below.
OPENING HOURS: If you see the church open, pop in because it’s often shut. Opening hours are from 9 - 12 and 4 - 6 (in winter it doesn’t open in the afternoons at all). In two days, I only saw it open once.
It's easy to walk right past St Agatha's and not notice it, partly because it is quite plain, partly because the entrance does not face onto the main street (via dei Priori) and partly because it is often shut.
What caught my eye was a small but brightly coloured painting of St Agatha, as a delicate and beautiful young woman next to the arched entry doors.
Inside, are ancient and faded frescoes that look much, much older than those we’d seen elsewhere.
The most unusual one shows a three-headed Jesus (near the door, on the right hand side). It is a rare reference to the concept of the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Later, theologians would find this image disturbing and were troubled by it’s association with beasts and the devil. In 1628, Pope Urban VIII banned it altogether. Few remain because they were either removed, burnt or sometimes cascading hair was painted to hide the offending side faces.
Above the altar, is a scene of the Crucifixion, painted some time between 1319 and 1333.
A lot of work seems to be going on to uncover and restore the frescoes which have been buried under plaster. It was interesting to see sections of plaster which have been cut away, exposing glimpses of colour from long-lost paintings which lie below.
OPENING HOURS: If you see the church open, pop in because it’s often shut. Opening hours are from 9 - 12 and 4 - 6 (in winter it doesn’t open in the afternoons at all). In two days, I only saw it open once.
Written July 20, 2023
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