San Michele Arcangelo Church

Marsico Nuovo, Italy

San Michele Arcangelo is a Roman Catholic church located on Largo San Gianuario, in front of the more imposing church of San Gianuario in the town of Marsico Nuovo.

The popularity of churches dedicated to the warrior angel was spread by the Lombards, and this and some documents attest to this church existing centuries before 1131, perhaps in the time of the Duchy of Benevento. The church at the site has undergone many reconstructions over the centuries. Many are due to damage by earthquakes, including one in 1700 cited by a plaque in the belltower.

The present facade was likely the original apse. The main portal in gothic-style dates to the 13th century or earlier, and is attributed to the Master Melchiorre da Montalbano.

The interior has a medieval stone baptismal font and an 18th-century painting on wood of the Archangel. The apse has remains of medieval frescoes showing Byzantine influence.

References:

Wikipedia

Religious sites in Italy

Address

Via Sant'Angelo 1, Marsico Nuovo, Italy

See all sites in Marsico Nuovo

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Religious sites in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

San Gianuario Church (0,1 km)
Marsico Nuovo Cathedral (0,3 km)

Santissima Trinità (24,5 km)
San Francesco Church (24,5 km)
Tricarico Cathedral (41,1 km)
Padula Charterhouse (11,9 km)
Cristo Redentore (48,6 km)
Acerenza Cathedral (45 km)
National Archaeological Museum of Basilicata (24,7 km)
Potenza Cathedral (24,8 km)
Santa Maria da Nives (50,8 km)

User Reviews

Emiddio Michele Gianuario Votta (18 months ago)
Built around the year 1000 in the Lombard age, the Church dedicated to the Archangel Michael in Civita in Marsico Nuovo is a sculptural and pictorial art heritage

Sergio S. (4 years ago)
There are no documents proving the exact year of its foundation, but it is certainly among the oldest churches in the city. The cult of the Archangel Michael was spread by the Lombards after the victory over the Saracens in 663 AD. It is probable, therefore, that the first Longobard counts wanted its foundation (Anibrando was the first to rule the county of Marsico around the middle of the 8th century). Manuscript reports attest that San Michele functioned as a cathedral before 1131, the year of the erection of the new temple dedicated to San Giorgio. Continuous restorations due to the frequent earthquakes (that of 1700 is attested by the plaque on the bell tower), have profoundly changed the original structure of the church

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright Bela Lindtner

Historic Site of the week

Gravensteen

The Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. The name means 'castle of the counts' in Dutch. Arnulf I (918–965), Count of Flanders, was the first to fortify this place, building a medieval bastion on this high sand dune, naturally protected by the river Leie and its marshy banks. This bastion consisted of a central wooden building and several surrounding buildings, also in wood.

In the early 11th century, the wooden building was replaced by a stone residence, consisting of three large halls that made up three storeys, connected by a stone stairwell. The monumental stone staircase, the light openings, the fireplaces built into the walls and the latrines were signs of considerable luxury and comfort in those days. There was probably also a tower.