CONVENT OF SANTA MARIA IN POGGIO

HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION

The construction of the Church of Santa Maria in Poggio and the adjacent convent was begun at the beginning of the seventeenth century and expanded at the end of the century. The structure initially belonged to the Carmelites and then to the Franciscans.
The convent, whose access is constituted by a small door placed next to the facade of the church, served for a period as a retirement home; currently the architectural complex is in a poor state of conservation, this is evident both on the outside of the building and in the interesting tempera paintings, which adorn the internal cloister, unfortunately very deteriorated.
The cloister represents the most significant part of the entire building. Divided on four sides, which make up corridors surmounted by small cross vaults supported by sturdy pillars placed at intervals of round arches, it is embellished in the center by a well of modest workmanship.
Four marble slabs were placed in memory of the benefactors of the Sorianese hospice, who lived between the 1930s and the 1970s. On one of the most celebratory tombstones we read: “Pietro Poli, the inexhaustible sources of genius and heart lavished in this city hospice for the benefit of the last destitute, the Congregation of Charity, admiring their faith, wanted to consecrate this memory to him while living. 1923 “.
Taking into consideration the paintings in the cloister, starting from the entrance, we note the tempera placed on the lunette of the portal, depicting St. Francis in the act of receiving the stigmata, executed by Fra Giovanni Antonio da Padova, author of the entire pictorial cycle with the Stories of St. Francis, dated from the end of the 17th to the beginning of the 18th century. Two scenes were painted facing each other at the entrance to the courtyard and show the martyrdom of the Franciscan friars suffered in Morocco. Among the numerous Franciscan images that adorn the interior, various characters have been inserted in small panels, also in tempera, the first of which is Fra Carlo di Sezze. The first painted section shows the Mystery of the Porziuncola and the medallion with St. Louis of Toulouse. Then you can admire St. Anthony of Padua and the Birth of St. Francis in the next niche, followed by the Baptism of St. Francis and St. Bernardino of Siena. Still below the three prodigies of the Saint, joined to the box with St. Peter of Alcantara. The fifth scene proposes the Renunciation of Goods and the gift of the cloak together with the medallion with St. John of Capestrano. Continuing: The dream of Innocent III and the box with S. Diego d’Alcalà, the Reconfirmation of the rule with S. Pasquale Baylon. The eighth scene, disfigured by the opening of a door in the wall, represents the Madonna del Poggio tra Santi: it is a sacred conversation, in which the Virgin Mary with the Child in her arms appears in the center on a bed of clouds. Saints Francis and Anthony. The convent was dedicated to the Madonna, following the continuous apparitions that took place in that place. The ninth section, which opens on the front side of the entrance, recalls the Sermon of St. Francis to the friars, with St. Ludovico next to it. Continuing the visit on the same side, you can observe: The apparition of the chariot of fire near Santa Chiara, The expulsion of the demons from Arezzo with Sant’Ivo, The trial of fire next to Santa Coletta di Corbie, The fraudulent bag with the effigy of S. Elzeario, Il Presepe and Santa Chiara di Montefalco.
The fifteenth painting shows the visit of Alexander IV to the tomb, divided into two parts by the insertion of a door. Continuing the analysis of the paintings in sequence on the side arm of the cloister, we note the tempera with St. Francis and the Leper, flanked by the medallion with St. Rocco Pellegrino and Taumaturgo. The seventeenth niche instead shows the painting depicting the Miracle of the spring and Santa Caterina Vigri from Bologna. Below: Innocenzo III and S. Francesco, also defaced by an entrance, with S. Benvenuto Scotivoli, Charity of S. Francesco and Sant’Elisabetta of Portugal, S. Francesco and Gedeone with S. Giacomo della Marca, S. Francis and the Popes and St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Francis and the devil with St. Francesco Solano beside them. Finally, on the last arm of the cloister we find: S. Francesco among angels with Santa Rosa da Viterbo, S. Francesco gives roses to the pope near Blessed Jacopo da Todi, S. Francesco and indulgences with Santa Delfina, S. Francesco and the indulgences with Beato Amadeo of Portugal, St. Francis and indulgences with Santa Margherita da Cortona.

ESSENTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

D’ARCANGELI V., Soriano nel Cimino nella storia e nell’arte, Viterbo 1981.
D’ARCANGELI V., Monumenti archeologici e artistici del territorio di Soriano nel Cimino e delle zone limitrofe, Soriano nel Cimino (Vt) 1967.
Soriano nel Cimino, a cura di Carivit S.p.a., autori D’ARCANGELI V., SANTOCCHI A., Viterbo 1993.
TARSETTI BARZELLOTTI M. A., Soriano nel Cimino, Bolsena (Vt) 1991.