The Church of San Pietro in Tuscania is a jewel of Romanesque-Lombard art.
Located on the summit of the homonymous hill, flanked by two tall watchtowers, it reveals all its charm when its façade and its white rose window appear to the visitor who turns towards the courtyard, enriched by Etruscan sarcophagi.
The San Pietro hill was the site of the ancient Etruscan city and it is not excluded that the current basilica was founded in the 8th century on the remains of a pagan temple (all around are evident the ruins of the Etruscan-Roman acropolis) and underwent various architectural transformations over the centuries. In the 11th century, the side aisles, the apses, and the crypt were rebuilt, and subsequently, the central nave was extended by two arches towards the entrance. The façade also had different construction phases: the side parts were built in the 12th century and at the beginning of the following century, the central vertical body was realized, protruding about one meter compared to the side parts.
During that period, the hill became a fortified stronghold. Thus, around the church and the adjacent episcopal palace, some defensive towers arose, two of which still form part of the impressive scenic spectacle, and a third, truncated, stands in front of the façade, outside the enclosure.
Information about the Church of San Pietro
01017 Tuscania (Viterbo)
0761434374
pm-laz@beniculturali.it
Source: MIBACT
