The Church of St. Donato in Civita di Bagnoregio is just as amazing as all of the others I’ve visited. One of the pleasures I have found in the last few years has been to visit many of the Churches or places of worship in Italy. Each time I enter the doors of a Church, I’m in awe. The amount of craftsmanship, detail, and labor that went into these magnificent buildings. Each one is different; you never know what you might find on the exterior or within its walls.
A beautiful Church from the seventh century
Arriving at the Church of St. Donato in Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy, was not disappointing. As we came into the dusty piazza and saw the church and bell tower on the opposite side, which looks very plain and unadorned on the outside, we wondered what beauty we would find inside. The doors are old and wooden, smooth from many centuries of use. Our eyes begin to adjust as we go from bright sunlight to a dimly lit interior of the Church. Once we can see, we are not disappointed.
This the Church of St. Donato in Civita di Bagnoregio was founded in the seventh century and built on a Roman temple site. The architecture changed over the centuries. Inside houses, some of the relics of St. Hildebrand, bishop of the city in the ninth century. In the 15th Century, artists from the school of Donatello carved a large wooden crucifix from the wood of a pear tree. And artists from the school of Perugino painted frescoes.
You can spend some time here, in the peace and quiet, wondering what it was like to attend worship with others. There are frescoes, old wooden pews worn from use, and beams of sunlight streaming through the windows. I am continually amazed and appreciate every time I have the opportunity to visit one of these buildings.
If you have been to this Church, I’d love to hear about your experience or see the pictures you’ve taken.
