Best Western
Hotel Viterbo

Church of Saint Maria of the Verità

: : Map of Viterbo : : Click for a larger view Download PDF

: : Map of Province : : Click for a larger view Download PDF

Founded in the 12th century, this church was enlarged in the following centuries to be completed with the cloister and an adjoining convent in 1340 with a part of it also reconstructed after the war.
There is a sole nave inside which unites the introduction of Gothic elements, like the transept with an acute arch with implements tied to the Romanesque tradition; of particular interest the historic and artistic frescoes in the Gothic Chapel Mazzatosta, done in 1469 by the painter Lorenzo of Viterbo.
The cycle, heavily compromised by a bomb that hit the church, was recuperated by the patient work of restorers from the Central Institute of Restorers guided by C. Brandi, bringing it to the splendour we see now; frescoes by Nardo Mazzatosta illustrate episodes of the life of the Virgin Mary and show the comprehension and re-interpretation of the style of Piero della Francesca by the part of the Viterbo painter, and furthermore, their historic value is also found in the representation of some noted characters of the époque (among which, the painter himself who is talking to a customer) in the scene of “Spozalizio della Vergine” (Marriage of the Virgin).
The convent next to the church, connected to the cloister, is the present seat of the Civic Museum.