Basilica di Sant'Elia

The Basilica di Sant'Elia in Castel Sant'Elia originates from a monastery founded here in 520 by Anastasius, a notary in the Roman court. In the early 11th century the abbot Elia built here a basilica which was mentioned, among the others, by Pope Gregory VII in 1176 and by Innocent III in 1211.

In 1607 a fallen tuff rock damaged the left side wall, and the church was subsequently restored at the expenses of the Farnese family, who owned the basilica from 1540 to 1649. In 1740 a period of decline began, due to the construction of a parish church in the town, which ended in the 19th century when Pius IX had architect Virginio Vespignani restore the edifice.

Architecture

The basilica of Sant'Elia is a Romanesque structure with a nave and two aisles, and a transept. The columns separating the nave's bays were likely taken from ancient Roman buildings. The raised transept is accessed through three steps from three arcades. The façade has three portals, the central one having remains of a painting in its lunette.

The high altar is surmounted by a ciborium decorated with a Cosmatesque cross and four columns. Of the Schola Cantorum, only the ambo survives today. The transept and part of the nave feature a Cosmatesque pavement. The crypt has two rooms, the largest housing Anastasius' tomb.

The church had originally a large bell tower, built in 1260 by the canons of Santo Spirito in Sassia who had received the monastery by Pope Alexander IV two years before. It was destroyed in 1855.

Address
Via Sant' Elia 73, Castel Sant'Elia, Italy

Established
11th century