Subiaco, Italy

The town of Subiaco is located in the eastern Lazio region of central Italy, at the head of the Aniene valley, close to a hill about 400 meters above sea level, and across the slopes of the Simbruini mountains. The medieval town, built on a rocky cliff, looks over the entire valley of the Aniene, where we find the Benedictine monasteries of the 'Sacro Speco' and 'St. Scholastica', the principal attractions of a visit. At the entrance to Subiaco is the medieval bridge of S. Francesco, built by Abbot Adhemar in 1358 and with a single span reaching almost 40 metres. The tower at the end of the bridge historically controlled access to the city. Across the river Aniene is the Church of S. Francis dating back to 1327 and built in the Romanesque-Gothic style. The interior of the church has a single nave covered by a trussed roof, with a great triumphal arch and a square choir. Be sure to enter the church which contains frescoes of considerable importance, such as those by Giovanni Antonio Bazzi, called "Il Sodoma" (1477-1549), who painted a cycle of frescoes depicting the life of Mary, which concludes with the Passion of Christ. In the church vault are paintings of the Evangelists and Christ the Redeemer while below there are some scenes in the ancient relief style and two pilasters with grotesques. On the top of the hill above Subiaco we find the Rock abbey, which was a fortress and residence of the Popes and still dominates the town below. The typical medieval district in Subiaco extends as far as the slopes of the Rock, with places of interest including the Church of St. Peter, with the Romanesque bell tower and the church of Our Lady of the Cross, with a single nave, oblong windows with pointed arches, and containing 14th century frescoes. In the lower part of the town, on the left side of the river Aniene, is the church of St. Lorenzo, which according to tradition is the oldest in Subiaco. #city #cityoverlook #citytopics #cityvacation #cityneversleeps #village #architecture #tripinspired #tripaway #village #bestislandtraveltowns#naturalwonders