St. Giacomo Oratory

An aura of mysticism and beauty pervades anyone who crosses the threshold of the small wooden doorway, which allows entry into this little 17th-century jewel.

HISTORY

Ancient crypt of the abbey church of ‘Santa Maria della Piazza’, the latter of which was half demolished and of which only the front remains.

Audio-Guide

In 1652, devout laymen erected the Confraternity of St. James and St. Leonard, later known only as St. James, with the approval of Archbishop Foppa of Benevento, and in 1692, there was the Bull confirming the canonical erection by Archbishop Orsini.

The Confraternity had its vaults frescoed with religious scenes, mostly scenes from the life and miracles of Jesus, the life of Mary, and images of saints and popes.

ART

Even today, details of the 17th-century restoration are still evident, evident in the windows on the eastern side and the walls frescoed with religious scenes depicting stories from the Old and New Testaments.

Audio-Guide

The vault features the glories of Mary while, at the bottom of the crypt, there is a fresco of St Catherine of Alexandria; adorning the remaining sacred room are some miracles of Jesus and images of saints and popes.

The most interesting fresco is undoubtedly that of St Catherine of Alexandria, at the end of the crypt, behind where the altar was originally located, and a few fragments on the walls, most probably contemporary with the foundation of the Abbey in the 12th century. On either side of the walls, wooden benches were placed for the Brothers, as well as an altar for religious offices. A trapdoor with the inscription pro confratibus, led to a further room below, which was used for burying corpses, while another access on the left side of the apse led to the church, on the upper floor, which was closed in 1580 before the erection of the confraternity. The trapdoor, on the other hand, was closed following work carried out after the 1980 earthquake.

The other sites of historical and cultural interest to visit in Montefusco!

St. Giacomo Oratory

An aura of mysticism and beauty pervades anyone who crosses the threshold of the small wooden doorway, which allows entry into this little 17th-century jewel.

Ruggiero Palace

Giordano Palace

St. Francis Church

St. Giacomo Oratory