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Tempietto di San Bonaventura in Civita di Bagnoregio: art, history and Baroque silence
In the heart of Civita di Bagnoregio stands the St Bonaventure’s Temple, a small baroque building that holds within it centuries of history and devotion. Originally dedicated to Archangel St Michael, it was acquired in the first half of the 17th century by the Venerable Confraternity of St Bonaventure, which gave it its current name, before it fell into a long period of neglect. In 1856 Monsignor Brinciotti sought its restoration, entrusting the project to architect and painter Pietro Gagliardi.
The restoration of beauty
Gagliardi’s intervention, documented in the diocesan archives, brought balance and light back to the building. Surfaces were reinforced, frescoes renewed, and decorations carefully redesigned. The resulting effect is understated rather than overpowering, yet the interior offers a clear sense of harmonious forms and restrained elegance).
Faith and art
Two remarkable works are worthy of mention: on the right wall a fresco of the Madonna del Popolo (Our Lady of the People), and behind the main altar the painting Sacro Cuore di Gesù e San Bonaventura (Sacred Heart of Jesus with St Bonaventure). The figures emerge from the warm tones and soft light typical of the 19th‑century Roman school. Small and intimate, the tempietto remains a beloved place for the people of Bagnoregio—quiet, sober and filled with memories of the past.
