The Church of Sant’Antonio fuori le mura, located just outside L’Aquila’s city walls near Porta Barete, dates back to the 12th century and is one of the city’s oldest churches. Originally part of a complex that included a convent and a hospital for travelers along the Via Claudia Nova, the church was established by the Canons Regular of Saint Anthony of Vienne, also known as the “Knights of the Sacred Fire.” The current façade and its Romanesque portal, added in 1308-1309, are significant architectural features. Over the centuries, the complex fell into disuse, with the convent closed in 1409 and the hospital ceasing operations in the 16th century. The church was heavily damaged in the 1703 earthquake and later reconstructed in Baroque style. After further damage in the 2009 earthquake, it reopened in 2023 following restoration.
The current church retains a simple rectangular layout with a barrel-vaulted apse. Its façade, built with 12th-century masonry, features a Romanesque portal described as a masterpiece of L’Aquila’s artistic heritage. The portal’s elaborate design includes spiral columns and richly decorated capitals, sharing stylistic similarities with other regional portals of the early 14th century, such as Santa Maria Paganica. Historically, the portal has been a key reference for dating similar architectural works in the region.
- Address
L’Aquila, Province of L’Aquila, Italy - Web
https://www.cordiscoalessio.it/1a2s3d4f5g6h/ - Visiting Hours
Unknown - What to see
Romanesque portal