San Michele Arcangelo, Rivodutri

San Michele Arcangelo is the Roman Catholic parish church in the center of the town of Rivodutri, in the province of Rieti, region of Lazio, Italy.

History

A church at the site was likely present from early medieval times, and is documented in 1252 in a list of churches under the bishop of Rieti. Churches dedicated to St Michael were favored by the Lombards, and often located in mountain-top sites.

The present church was rebuilt at this site after a 1703 earthquake, work continued until 1769. In 1775 the clock was added to the bell-tower. The church has a single nave with a square apse, and has two chapels on either side. The first on the right has a depiction of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio (1756) by Pietro Bada. The second is dedicated respectively to the Santissima Pietà and the Holy Rosary. This chapel holds a prized canvas depicting La Pietà with Saints Matthew and Francis (1626-1626) by Vincenzo Manenti. On the walls are depiction of the Mysteries of the Rosary. The main altar has a large display of the Crucifixion including depictions of two co-patrons of the town, the martyred saints Abdon e Sennen. The second chapel on the left has frescoes detached from the former Chiesa dell’Annunziata, damaged by the earthquake of 1948. On the bell-tower, below the clock, is a small bas-relief of St Michael slaying the Dragon, this likely derives from the original church.