Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Viterbo

The Viterbo Cathedral, built on the site of an ancient temple of Hercules, was consecrated as a parish church in 1181, before 11 years later became a cathedral - and the center of a diocese. Within the 13th century the cathedral was part of the "Palazzo dei Papi", as from 1257 to 1281 Viterbo was the papal seat. Following the death of Pope Clement IV a conclave was held here. It took exactly 1005 days (from November 1268 to September 1271) and was the longest papal election in the history. During these years three of the twenty cardinals died, one of them resigned. The election od Pope Gregory X finally occurred more than a year after the magistrates of Viterbo locked the cardinals in and reduced their rations to bread and water. There is a legend telling, that the roof of the "Palazzo dei Papi" was removed, so that the cardinals had to stay under the open sky - and the Holy Spirit found a better entrance.

The Viterbo Cathedral, built on the site of an ancient temple of Hercules, was consecrated as a parish church in 1181, before 11 years later became a cathedral - and the center of a diocese. Within the 13th century the cathedral was part of the "Palazzo dei Papi", as from 1257 to 1281 Viterbo was the papal seat. Following the death of Pope Clement IV a conclave was held here. It took exactly 1005 days (from November 1268 to September 1271) and was the longest papal election in the history. During these years three of the twenty cardinals died, one of them resigned. The election od Pope Gregory X finally occurred more than a year after the magistrates of Viterbo locked the cardinals in and reduced their rations to bread and water. There is a legend telling, that the roof of the "Palazzo dei Papi" was removed, so that the cardinals had to stay under the open sky - and the Holy Spirit found a better entrance.

The Viterbo Cathedral, built on the site of an ancient temple of Hercules, was consecrated as a parish church in 1181, before 11 years later became a cathedral - and the center of a diocese. Within the 13th century the cathedral was part of the "Palazzo dei Papi", as from 1257 to 1281 Viterbo was the papal seat. Following the death of Pope Clement IV a conclave was held here. It took exactly 1005 days (from November 1268 to September 1271) and was the longest papal election in the history. During these years three of the twenty cardinals died, one of them resigned. The election od Pope Gregory X finally occurred more than a year after the magistrates of Viterbo locked the cardinals in and reduced their rations to bread and water. There is a legend telling, that the roof of the "Palazzo dei Papi" was removed, so that the cardinals had to stay under the open sky - and the Holy Spirit found a better entrance.

The church dedicated to San Silvestro (aka "Chiesa del Gesù") church may have been erected around 1000. On 13 March 1271 Henry of Almain, son of Richard, Earl of Cornwall and Count of Anjou, grandson of John, King of England (aka "John Lackland"), attended a mass here together with King Philip III of France (aka "Philippe le Hardi") and Charles of Sicily (aka "Charles I of Naples"). During the ceremony Henry of Almain was attacked by his cousins Simon and Guy de Montfort. Henry was dragged out and stabbed to death by his cousins right in front of the church. The brothers claimed to have done this in revenge of the death of their father and brother, who had been beheaded during the Battle of Evesham (1265). For this crime the Montfort brothers were excommunicated, and Dante banished Guy to the river of boiling blood in the seventh circle of his Inferno.

The church was comissioned in the early 14th century by Master Fardo Ugolino. The small oratory was located near to Viterbo´s prison and brothels. It was obviously intended to admonish the prostitutes and their clients urgently to think about heaven and hell.. The highly decorated portal of the early Gothic church, erected on a quatrefoil floorplan.

The church was comissioned in the early 14th century by Master Fardo Ugolino. The small oratory was located near to Viterbo´s prison and brothels. It was obviously intended to admonish the prostitutes and their clients urgently to think about heaven and hell.. It is a nice early Gothic building, erected on a quatrefoil floorplan.