Monuments > SS. Guemeo and  Matteo Church

The roman church is surrounded by a large garden of plane trees. It is traditionally thought to have been erected over the site where the two Martyrs were tortured to death and then buried. It is believed that their bodies were found towards the second half of 1200s.

The ancient early-medieval building, initially dedicated to San Fedele, might have had a central groundplan and have been poly-lobated for its purpose of mausoleum. In 1533 after having inverted its orientation and added an impressive pronaos resting on columns and a presbytary, the building was named after the two Martyrs.

The most important decorative intervention is "The Glory of God our Father and of the Angels" frescoed in 1608 by Giovanni Mauro della Rovere alias Fiammenghino, on the vault of the presbytery. 

Later works are the wall paintings from the centre of the church to the high alter, depicting "The Judgement of Saints Gusmeo and Matthew", "The Martyrdom of the Saints", and "The transportation of the Relics", dated 1637 ordered by Bishop Carafino. 

The marble alter and two paintings of the "Christ of Passion" complete the decoration of the presbytery.

The 16th century painting of "Our Lady of the Rosary with St. Domenic and the faithful" and a silk vexillum kept in the chapel of The Holy Virgin of the Rosary are also worthy of admiration.

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