Photos of the Romanesque San Pietro Extra Moenia Spoleto

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Photos of the Medieval Romanesque  San Pietro Extra Moenia Spoleto Architecture & Art. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams.  (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Romanesque San Pietro Extra Moenia Spoleto

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Photos of the Romanesque San Pietro Extra Moenia Church Spoletto. Extra Moenia means outside the wall which is where the church of St Peters is situated.

The founding of San Pietro Extra Moenia

When the relics of the chains that held St Peter were brought to Spoleto in Italy in about 419 AD, Bishop Achilleo built a church in the saints name to house them. Saint Peter’s was built on a necropolis that was used to as a burial ground for the Bishops of Spoleto.

In the Late 12th century battles between the rival Guelphs and the Ghibellines had damaged the original church. Its ruins were replaced by the Romanesque style church of San Pietro.

San Pietro Extra Moenia Romanesque Facade

The facade of St Peters was decorated with Romanesque Bas relief sculptures created by a single workshop of sculptors. The representations in the facade panels are scenes from the scared texts, including depictions of the Last Judgement, and scenes from medieval folk law moral fables.

The Lion in Romanesque Art

The relief panels of San Pietro depict Lions depicted, represented evil, attacking men. According to the Medieval Bestiary Lionesses represent the sin of Pride hence the saying of the period “You have caught me because of my pride, like a lioness”.

It was believed that Lions would only attack men, never women or children. The scenes depict men facing their own pride in the form of a Lion and being harried by the Lions “lest in security our minds become presumptuous and puffed up with pride”.

Depictions of the Archangel Michael killing the dragon and a deer killing a snake point to good winning over evil.

The facade of the San Pietro extra moenia is a fine example of Italian Romanesque and has survived in remarkably good order.