San Gemini - Abbazia di San Nicolò

San Gemini was probably founded by people having abandoned the Roman settlement of Carsulae, now an archeological area, about 5kms north.

The "Regesto di Farfa" from 1036 is the first document that mentions the city as well as the "Abbey of San Nicolò". The abbey was built on older foundations in the 11th century and has undergone numerous alterations and restoration works through the centuries.

It is privately owned, but fortunately a friendly gentleman unlocked the doors for us. Mille grazie!

The interior is made up of a nave and two aisles. The church is 32 metres lang and 13,50 metres wide. We learned that the church in very bad repair end of the 19th century - and private efforts saved the building. Wihin the 13th century the church got enlarged by a rectangular apse. The foundations of the older semicircular apse are excavated. The "Madonna With Child" on the wall was painted (dated and signed!) by "Ruggero da Todi" in 1295.