Abbazia
di San Claudio al Chienti
Corridonia
The
problem of identifying San Claudio al Chienti has not been solved yet.
It
has always been considered an Abbey, yet no historical document defines it
as an abbey. Some letters from Fermo, dating back to the 12th
century, mention the “Parish church” of San Claudio.
A change from monastery to parish church in the 11th century
cannot be ruled out. Its particular architectural structure is important,
the style is typical of the churches in Ravenna, such as Sant’ Apollinare
in Classe.
The building is divided in two planes, and has a square design, with three
apses on the backside and two on the sidewalls. Beside the façade visitors
may admire two cylindrical towers in the typical style of churches in
Ravenna.
The external side staircase, the gallery and the portal of the upper church
were added in the 12th century.
The church was probably accessed through the spiral staircases within the
two angular towers. In that period the church was partly rebuilt after being
attacked by the inhabitants of Macerata in 1212.
The lower church has cross vaults and two small frescoes of 1486, portraying
Saints Claude and Rocco.
©
2001 Liberation Ventures Ltd.
|