Tempietto longobardo

About the museum

The Tempietto longobardo, also called the oratory of Santa Maria in Valle, is considered the most important and best-preserved architectural testimony of the Lombard age in Italy. It was built around the middle of the 8th century as the palatine chapel of the gastaldia, the residence of the gastald; the initiative is most probably attributed to Aistulf, duke of Friuli and later king of the Lombards, and to his wife Giseltrude.

The gastaldia was later transformed into the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria in Valle, which incorporated the church of San Giovanni in Valle and the Tempietto. The complex is now inhabited by the Ursulines, and the Tempietto is reached from the cloister. The interior consists of a square hall with a cross vault and a lower presbytery with columns and barrel vaults.

On the western wall stucco and frescoes survive: the lunette of the portal shows Christ between the archangels Michael and Gabriel, while the upper frieze presents six figures of saints in stucco relief, which blend classical and Byzantine models with Lombard taste. Since 2011 the Tempietto has been part of the serial UNESCO site “I Longobardi in Italia. I luoghi del potere (568–774 d.C.)”. The visit route also includes other spaces of the monastery, including the church of San Giovanni, the refectory, a picture gallery and the cloister with archaeological excavations.

Highlights

• Lombard palatine chapel of the 8th century
• Frieze of six saints in stucco
• Frescoes and decorations of different periods
• UNESCO site “I Longobardi in Italia”
• Cloister with archaeological excavations and other monastery spaces

Permanent exhibition

• Tempietto longobardo e Monastero di Santa Maria in Valle – Visit to the Tempietto with early medieval stuccoes and frescoes and to the monastery spaces, including the church of San Giovanni, the refectory and the cloister with archaeological excavations.

Operated by

Comune di Cividale del Friuli

Visitors per year

approx. 50,750

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for EU-licensed tourist guides, accompanying teachers, ICOM members and holders of the FVGcard. Online purchase via Vivaticket: advance sales fee of €1. Booking is compulsory for groups.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site states that the entrance and the toilets are accessible to people in wheelchairs.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Entrance from the Monastery of Santa Maria in Valle, Via Monastero Maggiore 34, in the historic centre of Cividale del Friuli.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit