clitunno

clitunno is not A town, merely a stop along the road a few miles north of spoleto. but it has been a vacation spot since roman antiquity, because of the cold river springs there.

there is also a building there, called tempietto or "little temple." it dates from the 4th or 5th century A.d., just as the inhabitants of the roman empire were converting to christianity. given its appearance, it may have been originally a pagan temple and only later rededicated as a christian chapel.

THe facade looks every inch like an ancient temple.

the sides and rear show how small it is.

note the christian cross in the design at the rear of the chapel: this may have been added later, or may indicate that it was always a christian building.

the interior is only the size of a small room, but includes a decorated niche in the back wall, not a typical feature of christian churches at all, but typical for pagan temples, where the image of the god would have been placed.

around the niche, the walls have been painted with frescoes said to date from the 7th century A.d. on the left is st. paul and on the right is st. peter.

in the half dome above the niche, an image of christ.