San Michele Arcangelo, Perugia

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San Michele Arcangelo, also known as Sant'Angelo, is a paleo-Christian temple in the city of Perugia in Umbria. The circular building

Temple of Saint Michel
Tempio or Tempietto
Tempio di San Michele Arcangelo
Perugia - Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo 003.jpg
San Michele Arcangelo, Perugia
Location Perugia
CountryItaly
Architecture
Architectural type Paleochristian, Romanesque
Years builtto the 5th to 6th century

dates to the 5th to 6th century, and incorporates corinthian capped columns from a prior pagan temple. It is dedicated to the Archangel Michael, whose churches were often located in elevated spots. The small round church is also often called Tempio or Tempietto, and is located in the neighborhood Borgo Sant'Angelo, near the ancient northern gate (Porta Sant'Angelo) of the city.

Interior of temple. Interno del tempio di Sant'Angelo.JPG
Interior of temple.
cupula Perugia S.Angelo.jpg
cupula
Plan of church. MZK 05 - 1860 Reisenotizen Italien Fig 072 Perugia St. Angelo Querschnitt.jpg
Plan of church.

The structure of the church has been altered across the centuries; in 1479, it was converted into a small fort. A major restoration occurred in 1948 that revealed ancient frescoes and sealed windows. The architecture is an early Romanesque with Byzantine influences in the chapel placement, but the circular temple is something seen in other ancient churches in central Italy, including the church of Sant'Ercolano and of San Giovanni Rotondo in Perugia. It recalls the church of Santo Stefano Rotondo (460-480) in Rome.

Interior

The interior has a circumferential ambulatory delimited by sixteen columns with corinthian capitals. The interior has some notable early Christian symbolism, including a pentagram at the entrance and some crosses belonging to Knights Templar order. [1]

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References

  1. Wiki of Comuni Italiani, entry on Tempietto.

43°07′12″N12°23′07″E / 43.120°N 12.3853°E / 43.120; 12.3853