The oratory of San Pellegrino, the 'Sistine Chapel of Abruzzo'
On a hill in the municipality of Caporciano, south-east of L'Aquila, the small hamlet of Bominaco preserves one of the most extraordinary artistic treasures of Abruzzo, the remains of a powerful Benedictine monastery that dominated the area in the Middle Ages. Of the monastery, two churches remain. The first, the Oratorio di San Pellegrino, is a small, simple building from the outside, but its interior is entirely covered with frescoes painted in 1263, with stories of the life of Christ, the Last Judgement, saints and, most famous of all, a splendid calendar, in which each month of the year is depicted with the agricultural work, the saints and the signs of the zodiac. For the richness and freshness of its colours, it has been called the "Sistine Chapel of Abruzzo".
A few steps away stands the church of Santa Maria Assunta, one of the masterpieces of Abruzzo Romanesque, with a sober stone façade and a harmonious interior with three naves, which preserves a magnificent sculpted pulpit of 1180, a paschal candelabrum and a bishop's chair, decorated with refined reliefs of plants and animals. Above the hamlet, on the top of the hill, stand the ruins of the castle of Bominaco, with a cylindrical tower, from which the view sweeps over the plateau of Navelli and the mountains. The oratory is small and the frescoes fragile, so visits are by appointment with a local guardian or association, usually indicated on site or at the municipality of Caporciano.
Tip: contact the custodian in advance to arrange your visit; combine Bominaco with Navelli and Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
Where it is
More things to see in Abruzzo
Where to stay near Caporciano
Tours and activities nearby
Offers from GetYourGuide. Some links are affiliate links: if you book we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.