Sant’Andrea is a 14th-century church located in

Spello Spello (in Antiquity: Hispellum) is an ancient town and ''comune'' (township) of Italy, in the province of Perugia in eastern-central Umbria, on the lower southern flank of Monte Subasio. It is 6 km (4 mi) NNW of Foligno and 10 k ...

province of Perugia The province of Perugia () is the larger of the two provinces in the Umbria region of Italy, comprising two-thirds of both the area and population of the region. Its capital is the city of Perugia. The province covered all of Umbria until 1927, w ...

, region of

Umbria Umbria ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region of central Italy. It includes Lake Trasimeno and Cascata delle Marmore, Marmore Falls, and is crossed by the Tiber. It is the only landlocked region on the Italian Peninsula, Apennine Peninsula. The re ...

, Italy.

History

A church at this site is documented since 1025, as belonging to

Camaldolese The Camaldolese Hermits of Mount Corona () are a Catholic Church, Catholic monastic order of pontifical right for men founded by Romuald, St. Romuald. Its name is derived from the Holy Hermitage () in Camaldoli, high in the mountains of Tuscany, ...

monks from the former monastery of San Silvestro, once located in the

frazione A ''frazione'' (: ''frazioni'') is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' ('municipality') in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist era (1922–1943) as a way to consolidat ...

of Collepino on the slopes of Monte Subasio. In the 13th century, the church came under the rule of the bishop of

Spoleto Spoleto (, also , , ; ) is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in east-central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines. It is south of Trevi, north of Terni, southeast of Perugia; southeast of Florence; and north of Rome. H ...

, who then granted it and surrounding farms, to monks of the Franciscan order. In 1254,

Pope Innocent IV Pope Innocent IV (; – 7 December 1254), born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 June 1243 to his death in 1254. Fieschi was born in Genoa and studied at the universities of Parma and Bolo ...

, and again in 1256

Pope Alexander IV Pope Alexander IV (1199 or 1185 – 25 May 1261) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 December 1254 to his death. Early career He was born as Rinaldo di Jenne in Jenne, Italy, Jenne (now in the Province of Rome ...

, confirmed these grants. In 1258, the latter pope granted indulgences to be offered over ten years to help pay for the erection of the monastery. The monastery was aided by its affiliation with the blessed Andrea Caccioli (1194-1254), who had been one of the original novices under St Francis, and had been the earliest leader of this monastery. In 1360, the blessed monk was proclaimed a "co-patron" of the town, although he did not get ''cultus confirmation'' by the Vatican until 1738, and has never been

beatified Beatification (from Latin , "blessed" and , "to make") is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name. ''Beati'' is the ...

. The church and convent have undergone many refurbishments over the centuries. The latter was twice secularized: once by the French occupation in 1810, and again in 1860 and 1866, when it became an orphanage for girls. The Franciscan order returned in 1982 to restore the monastery.Entry on church in website of Comune of Spello

Interior Artworks

*''St Francis'' in 16th century marble aedicule (wooden icon on right entry wall) *''Madonna and Child with Saints Anne, Roch and Nicola of Bari'' (1532, right wall) by Tommaso Corbo *''Meeting of Saints Joachim and Anne'' (1565, right wall) attributed to

Dono Doni Dono Doni, also known as Adone Doni or Dono dei Doni (1505-1575) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period active mainly in Umbria. Biography Doni was born at Assisi. While Luigi Lanzi, Lanzi and others claim he was a disciple of Pietro ...

*''Madonna and Child'' (first half of 14th century, nich on right wall. *''Madonna and Child, Saints Lawrence, Francis, Ludovico, Sant'Andrea Apostle, and a young John the Baptist'' (1507-1508) by

Pinturicchio Pinturicchio, or Pintoricchio (, ; born Bernardino di Betto; 1454–1513), also known as Benetto di Biagio or Sordicchio, was an Italian Renaissance painter. He acquired his nickname (meaning "little painter") because of his small stature a ...

with the help of

Eusebio da San Giorgio Eusebio da San Giorgio or ''Eusebio di Jacopo di Cristoforo da San Giorgio'' (c. 1470 – c. 1550) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period. Biography Born in Perugia, he was a pupil of the painter Pietro Perugino. In 1494, he was ele ...

and Giovanni di Francesco Ciambella *''Ecstasy of St Anthony'' (17th century, Chapel of St

Anthony of Padua Anthony of Padua, Order of Friars Minor, OFM, (; ; ) or Anthony of Lisbon (; ; ; born Fernando Martins de Bulhões; 15 August 1195 – 13 June 1231) was a Portuguese people, Portuguese Catholic priest and member of the Order of Friars Minor. ...

) *''Blessed Franciscan'' (1662, Chapel of St Anthony of Padua) by follower of Giovanni Battista Pacetti Wooden intaglio choir (17th century, apse) *''Twelve apostles'' (1913, apse) by Benvenuto Crispoldi *''Crucifixion'' (circa 1400, apse) by follower of Giotto Funeral Urn of Blessed Andrea Caccioli (17th century, Chapel of St Francis) *''Miracle of the Blessed Andrea Caccioli in Reggio Emilia'' (1610, Chapel of St Francis) by Cesare Sermei *''Blessed Beata Veronica Giuliani'' (17th century, Fresco in chapel of St Anthony) Other frescoes in the Chapel of St Anthony include a ''Madonna and child with Angels'' (14th century) by the school of Cola Petruccioli and an ''Enthroned Madonna and Child with St Anthony abbot and St James the Pilgrim and Donors'' (14th century) by the Master of Santa Giuliana In the chapel of the Holy Sacrament are 20th century paintings by Benvenuto Crispoldi and a fresco of the ''Madonna and Child with Saints Catherine and Lucy'' (16th century) by followers of Ascensidonio Spacca and frescoes by followers of Mazzaforte The Convent is under restoration. It has had some frescoes (late 17th century) attributed to Carlo Lamparelli and a canvas depicting ''St Ursula'' attributed to

Sebastiano Conca Sebastiano Conca (8 January 1680 – 1 September 1764) was an Italian painter. Biography He was born at Gaeta, then part of the Kingdom of Naples, and apprenticed in Naples under Francesco Solimena. In 1706, along with his brother Giovanni, wh ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Andrea Spello Churches in Spello 12th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy