The Chiesa del Gesù is a church in the Piazza del Gesù in Viterbo. It is located on the Colle del Duomo, the hill where the first settlement that would eventually lead to the foundation of the city was located. An English nobleman found his death inside the church. The original name was Church of San Silvestro.
A brief history of the Chiesa del Gesù in Viterbo
The church of San Silvestro became Chiesa del Gesù after it had come into the hands of the Jesuit order. It is particularly famous because the English nobleman Henry of Cornwall was murdered here on his way back from a crusade, on March 14th, 1272. The murderers were two brothers, Guido and Simone di Monfort. They wanted to avenge their father, who had been killed by order of the English royal family. Henry of Cornwall was the son of the English King Richard. The event is even mentioned in Dante‘s “Divine Comedy”.
Henry had fled to the altar thinking his enemies would not attack him inside a church, but he was killed anyway and dragged to the door. Two companions who tried to protect him were also killed.
Two inscriptions, in Latin and in Italian, on the rear wall of the church refer to the murder.
The church was built in the early 11th century and was then called Chiesa di San Silvestro. The Romanesque façade is characterized by a bell gable and two (in Viterbo almost inevitable) lion statues.
In the 15th century, the Chiesa del Gesù was the church owned by the Arte degli Ortolani (“Guild of Fruit and Vegetable Sellers”) and that of the Calzolai (“Shoemakers”).
In the 16th century the Carmelite Monastic Order took over the church and in 1643 Cardinal Brancaccio entrusted it to the Confraternita del Santissimo Nome di Gesù e di Sant’Anna.
What to see
The interior is graced by a 1450 fresco, depicting, among other things, the “Noli mi Tangere“, between “Saints Andrea and San Silvestro” and the “Eternity between Musing Angels.”
Other frescoes in the Chiesa del Gesù have unfortunately been painted over.
The wooden crucifix dates back to the 17th century.
Address, Opening Hours and Admission Price
The address of the Chiesa del Gesù is Piazza del Gesù – Viterbo. Opening hours: Unknown. Entrance: Free.
Chiesa del Gesù Viterbo
Source
- Touring Club Italiano – Guida d’Italia – Lazio.
- Photos are my own, unless otherwise indicated.
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