Photographer's Note
Church of San Nicolò - Spoleto
The monumental complex of San Nicolò is located in Spoleto, downstream from the cathedral, in an area of late medieval urban expansion, close to the pre-Roman city walls. It includes a former church, a former convent and two cloisters. Today it is simultaneously a theater, an exhibition center and a congress center. The complex was built starting from 1304, by the Augustinians, where there were, since the first years after the year 1000, two churches: San Niccolò di Bari and San Massimo.
It is very interesting and rare, because it is an example of the early Gothic style. The church was heavily damaged by the earthquake of 1767, so much so that it was then completely abandoned and only recovered at the end of the 20th century. In ancient times it was a very active center of religious and cultural life, especially until 1500: in 1512 it hosted Martin Luther who studied in his rich library.
It underwent a progressive decline in the eighteenth century until the coup de grace, represented by the earthquake of 1767. So it was abandoned, and used in the strangest ways: as a stable, warehouse, makeshift shelter, barn, blacksmith's forge, electrical cabin, covered market of truffles, mechanical workshop with bronze foundry for repairs of steam engines, up to factory of weights and measures, around 1905. Already in 1873 the bell tower added in the fifteenth century had been demolished.
It remained in this state of neglect until our times. Only in 1960 was it recovered.
The façade, on via Elladio, is very simple and linear, with two gabled pitches, but with a beautiful ogive portal, and, in the lunette, the fresco of the Madonna and Child between Saints Augustine and Nicholas (1412).
The interior of the church, covered with a trussed roof, consists of a single, wide nave, today almost completely devoid of the decorations, frescoes, sculptures and chapels that had enriched it from the fourteenth to the seventeenth century. The very high semicircular polygonal apse is divided by pilasters and surmounted by a ribbed vault resting on very high piers; along the walls there are fragments of frescoes; at the top there is a hanging gallery that takes light from mullioned windows open inwards and arranged in the intervals between the ribs. At the bottom, three other larger mullioned windows open outwards.
The convent, built on the oldest part of the city walls, still partially preserves the original structure. The cloisters were built in different periods: the first dates back to the 14th century, contemporary with the church, and rests on one side of the church; it is supported by polygonal pillars of white and red stone decorated with elegant capitals. On both sides there are sepulchral slabs of the fourteenth century epigraphs. In the corner of the cloister, what remains of the bell tower erected in 1470 on the initiative of Fra Servadio da Spoleto is visible, as reported by an inscription in situ. On the remaining sides the cloister has no galleries. In the 1400s, a second, more modest two-tier cloister was added, entirely in brick. In addition to the theater itself, which seats 450, another congress hall is on the first floor, with beautiful views over the Spoleto valley.
Underneath the apse, the church of Santa Maria della Misericordia to which you can go down the alley of the same name to the right of the complex.
pierrefonds, jhm, Fis2, PiotrF, papagolf21 has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
holmertz
(92932) 2020-10-22 4:19
Hello Silvio,
This is another very unusual church, looking more like a part of a castle, but I see traces of the Gothic style in two windows. There is a lot of shade and some strong contrasts, but you handled the exposure well, also the sharpness.
Best regards,
Gert
pierrefonds
(103643) 2020-10-22 4:52
Hi Silvio,
I like the play between the lighted and shadowed areas. The point of view is showing the details of the church of San Nicolo. The light is bringing out the colors. Have a nice day.
Pierre
jhm
(203103) 2020-10-22 4:55
Hello Silvio,
You chose a nice angle with the corner of the gallery
Also you play excellent with light and shadows and excellent clouds to the sky.
Sharpness are superb
Very well done, TFS.
Best regards,
John.
Fis2
(155732) 2020-10-22 9:21
Witaj Silvio!
A very curious fragment of church.
This church is interesting.
Good framing and colors.
I like light and shadow.
Well done.
Good evening.
Krzysztof
lousat
(130055) 2020-10-22 10:05
Ciao Silvio,finalmente qualcosa che sta ancora in piedi,pefettamente restaurata,fose priva di spunti eleganti ma lo sara' sicuramente all'interno,cattura eccellente con perfetta esposizioni delle luci differenti. Buona serata,Luciano
pajaran
(102750) 2020-10-22 10:13
Greeting.
Beautiful facade and details, beautiful old architecture, well shown with beautiful colors, contrast and good text.
Beautiful Church and a moment with clouds.
I wish you a nice and peaceful night, all the best.
Paja.
Tue
(82326) 2020-10-22 12:21
Hello Silvio,
Great view of this church and its courtyard. Fantastic light as well as play of light and shadow. The contrast between the shaded foreground and the golden colours of the sunlit part are great. Also the sky with some attractive clouds looks wonderful.
Lars
Royaldevon
(75546) 2020-10-22 12:36
Ciao Caro Silvio,
This doesn’t immediately look like a church,though the verandas and repeating pillars do resemble cloisters. There are different window styles, evidence of the changes that have occurred.
It’s sharply captured, with good control of the light.
My warm regards,
Bev 😊
Miguel82
(47108) 2020-10-22 15:33
Silvio, that church was renovated, i note a mix of old and more recent building materials. Here we can see a courtyard. Fine colors, good sharpness, regards.
PiotrF
(52330) 2020-10-22 17:24
Hello Silvio,
Interesting view of Church of San Nicolò.
Thank you for informative note.
I like good composition, nice colours and good quality.
Fine presentation
Regards
Piotr
jemaflor
(135502) 2020-10-22 23:15
Hi Silvio,
a good angle to take a photo of this church, good management for the exposure, good play of light between sunlight and shadows, tfs.
ifege
(32389) 2020-10-22 23:50
Hi Silvio
An interesting photo of this old church. I would have liked to see the dark areas lightened a bit for more detail but I still like it as it is.
cheers
Ian
papagolf21
(152601) 2020-10-22 23:58
Bonjour, cher ami Silvio,
Soupir de satisfaction et d'étonnement devant cet édifice exceptionnel par sa tenue et sa simplicité.
La page d'histoire est éloquente.
Amitiés.
Philippe
emka
(152344) 2020-10-23 0:02
Hello Silvio, Beautiful light illuminates this interesting church. Only two narrow windows indicate the Gothic style. Original passages.
Best regards Malgo
mkamionka
(61330) 2020-10-23 3:38
Ciao Silvio,
the structure itself which you present here is relatively simple but I see this picture is not about the building itself but about the extraordinary light conditions. The sun was setting low already and it made a lovely drawing with the shade line on the wall of the architecture. I think I would even cut closer to it, cutting away some of the shaded areas.
Either way you caught a great moment there.
Very well done,
M
jmdias
(103020) 2020-10-23 10:44
silvio
a difficult image because the area in shady. anyway we can see how big it is the structure and its style.
take care
jorge
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Silvio Sorcini (Silvio1953)
(205862)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2004-11-07
- Exposure: f/0.8, 30 seconds
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2020-10-22 3:59