This content was automatically translated. View the original text.
The Church of St Lawrence Martyr: the monumental heart of San Lorenzo Nuovo
The Parish Church of San Lorenzo Martire dominates the scenic octagonal square of San Lorenzo Nuovo — a unique urban landmark in the Tuscia region — rising to a height of 34 metres. Designed by architect Francesco Navone, the church represents the heart of the “new” town, an initiative strongly encouraged by Pope Pius VI to move the population away from the unhealthy air of the old settlement. As a testament to his patronage, the pontiff's coat of arms is clearly visible on the church’s central doorway.
The building has a geometric, almost neoclassical simplicity, evident both in its clean façade and in its longitudinal interior, which consists of a single nave and side chapels. This structure, conceived by Navone, is not at all cold; rather, it creates a sense of harmony and solemnity thanks to the crisp treatment of its surfaces and the quality of its light.
Inside are artistic treasures from different eras. Particularly striking is a precious polychrome wooden Crucifix dating from the 12th–13th century, a poignant legacy from the old church. In the side chapels, two large and beautiful paintings by the late-Mannerist Florentine painter Jacopo Zucchi can be admired, depicting the Ascension and the Resurrection, donated by Pope Pius VI himself. On the high altar, the altarpiece depicting the Martyrdom of St Lawrence is not by Zucchi, but is an 18th-century work by artist Filippo Bracci.
