This content was automatically translated. View the original text.
The Church of St Andrew in Montefiascone: A Thousand Years of History on its Medieval Walls
The Church of Sant'Andrea in Montefiascone appears in documents as early as 853 AD, making it one of the oldest in the city. It is located in Largo del Plebiscito, built against the first medieval circuit of walls, a short distance from the archway marking the entrance to the historic centre. This small building, almost squeezed between the surrounding structures, nonetheless preserves some of the most remarkable pre-Romanesque capitals in northern Latium (Alto Lazio).
What Remains of the Original Structure
The three-nave layout, columns, and pre-Romanesque capitals have survived from the early medieval church, but little else. Over time, the side aisles were incorporated into the adjacent buildings. Only the central section of the façade remains visible today, featuring the Gothic portal and rose window. The apse, clad in peperino stone, faces onto Piazza Vittorio Emanuele.
Capitals That Speak of the East
The four capitals of Lombard influence are the highlight. Each tells a different story: the first is Corinthian; the second depicts long-necked birds with serpentine tails; the third displays human faces carved at the corners; the fourth alternates fantastic animals with stylised palm leaves. The symbolism evokes the pre-Romanesque art of the early Middle Ages. On the right side of the façade, a stone tablet dated 1305 bears the oldest known coat of arms of the city.
Today: Orthodox Rite and Romanian Icons
The church now serves as a place of worship for the local Romanian Orthodox community. The icons stand alongside the Romanesque columns, without disrupting them.
