- Unesco Sites
- Art & Culture
Church of Santa Maria foris portas
The church of Santa Maria foris portas is located in the municipiality of Castelseprio in the province of Varese, on a hill two hundred meters away from the walls of an ancient castrum, hence the appellation in medieval Latin.
It is in fact integrant part of the UNESCO Archaeological Park and Antiquarium Site of Castelseprio.
It is the most ancient building in Castelseprio, the only one that survived the distruction and abandonment of the ancient fortified town, thanks to the devotion attached to the place of worship.
The main reason of interest is the very original and well-conserved cycle of frescoes that embellishes the apse space, among the most important testimonies of Europian wall painting in the early Middle Ages.
It is part of the serial site "Lombards in Italy: places of power", which comprehends seven sites rich in architectural, pictorial and sculptural evidence of Lombard art, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in June 2011.
Opening hours
Archaeological park of Castelseprio
From 1 December to 31 January:
- Antiquarium: closed
Holidays:
- Archaeological park and church S. Maria foris portas: 9.15-14.45
Working days:
- Archaeological park: 8,30-16,00
- Church S. Maria foris portas: 8.30-18.00
From 20 December to 10 January:
- Archaeological park and church S. Maria foris portas: 9.15-14.45
- Antiquarium: closed
From 1 February to 30 November:
Sunday and holidays
- Archaeological park: 9.45-18.00
- Church S. Maria foris portas: 9.45-14.30, 17.30-18.00
- Antiquarium: 14.45-17.15
Saturday
- Archaeological park : 8.30-19.00
- Church S. Maria foris portas : 8.30-14.30, 17.30-19.00
- Antiquarium: 14.45-17.15
From tuesday to friday
- Archaeological park : 8.30-19.00 (November closing at 16.00)
- Church S. Maria foris portas: 8.30-19.00
- Antiquarium: 8.30-13.15 (reservation only for groups and schools)
