Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Tuscania June 2023
Facade of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Tuscania. This church is at the foot of the hill of St Peter, where the Church of San Pietro stands.
According to an Information sign about the Santa Maria Maggiore church posted by the Commune di Tuscania: Of Romanesque structure, the church dates to the 8th century and was rebuilt between the 11th and the beginning of the 12th century, with subsequent refinement until acquiring its present day 3-nave form.
In the facade, local tuff is the predominant stone, and the overall disordered and asymmetrical decoration of the facade is likely the result of re-adaptation of parts repaired as required after various earthquakes. The singular posture of the Madonna in the bezel of the access portal with her feet hanging on the architrave is an example. The right portal is decorated with classic inspirational foliage, while the arch on the left has a Norman-Sicilian ornament. At the top between a lion and a griffin, there is a loggia with its nine columns and ten arches. Finally the rich rose window frame has two orders of 12 columns at he corners of which are sculptures of the symbols of the four Evanglists: eagle (St John), angel (St Matthew), lion (St Mark), and calf (St. Luke).
Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Tuscania June 2023
Facade of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Tuscania. This church is at the foot of the hill of St Peter, where the Church of San Pietro stands.
According to an Information sign about the Santa Maria Maggiore church posted by the Commune di Tuscania: Of Romanesque structure, the church dates to the 8th century and was rebuilt between the 11th and the beginning of the 12th century, with subsequent refinement until acquiring its present day 3-nave form.
In the facade, local tuff is the predominant stone, and the overall disordered and asymmetrical decoration of the facade is likely the result of re-adaptation of parts repaired as required after various earthquakes. The singular posture of the Madonna in the bezel of the access portal with her feet hanging on the architrave is an example. The right portal is decorated with classic inspirational foliage, while the arch on the left has a Norman-Sicilian ornament. At the top between a lion and a griffin, there is a loggia with its nine columns and ten arches. Finally the rich rose window frame has two orders of 12 columns at he corners of which are sculptures of the symbols of the four Evanglists: eagle (St John), angel (St Matthew), lion (St Mark), and calf (St. Luke).