Description of the attraction
The Church of Sant'Angelo, built in Perugia in the 5th-6th centuries and dedicated to the Archangel Michael, is today one of the oldest churches in Italy. Probably, it stands on the foundation of an ancient Roman temple, which was destroyed with the prohibition of paganism and the spread of Christianity throughout the empire. Moreover, some archaeological scientists suggest that even earlier this place was sacred to the mysterious Etruscans.
Umbria is one of those Italian regions in which Christianity spread rapidly. Already by the 6th century, 21 dioceses existed on this land, contested by the Byzantines and barbarians. And the local population looked for consolation in the new monotheistic religion from numerous wars and other disasters. At that time, some churches were already built, such as, for example, San Salvatore (4-5 centuries) in Spoleto, but, unfortunately, only a small part of them survived to this day. Many Christian churches were built on the foundations of ancient pagan temples - this was the case with the Abbey of San Pietro in Valle and the Basilica of Sant Euphimia in Spoleto.
The early Christian church of Sant'Angelo, standing on one of the highest hills of Perugia, has other names - Padiglione di Orlando, Temple of the Archangel Michael, or simply Tempietto (small temple). You can get to it by walking along Corso Garibaldi Street. A small garden surrounds the entrance to the building, built on two concentric surfaces. Inside, the church is built in a typical Romanesque style: the covered arcade and the presbytery are separated by an amphitheater of 16 Corinthian columns. Given that all the columns have different sizes and are made of different materials, it can be assumed that they were brought here from other buildings, which was typical for that time. Two chapels adjacent to the outer walls of the church give it the shape of a Greek cross.
This place is a must-visit for those who believe in everything mysterious and mystical - the temple is full of various strange symbols. On the doorframes and on the chest of the Virgin Mary, depicted in one of the frescoes, you can see crosses that were part of the symbolism of the Templars - a medieval religious brotherhood whose history is full of secrets and mysteries. Moreover, a few meters from the entrance to Sant'Angelo, a pentagram is drawn - a symbol of worship of the goddess Venus, who in the Middle Ages was associated with black magic.
In 1948, restoration work was carried out in the church, as a result of which antique frescoes and 12 windows of the central vestibule were restored. Particularly noteworthy is the 14th century marble portal, which, oddly enough, lacks the traditional round rosette window and high reliefs.
