CIVATE Civate is situated in the province of Lecco at the foot of Mount Cornizzolo, near the northern side of lake Annone. On the slope of Mount Cornizzolo there are the basilica of San Pietro al Monte and the oratory of San Benedetto.

THE BASILICA OF SAN PIETRO AL MONTE The basilica dates back to the 11th century, it is a Romanesque church, even though its plan with two apses opposed to each other suggests a relationship with the Carolingian architecture (the period starting in the late 8th century AD, when Charlemagne was the Holy Roman Emperor). The masonry of the building is in ashlars of stone with a series of hanging arches.

The building has a rectangular plan with two apses, western and eastern. The eastern one is preceded by a semi- circular two-storey ambulatory and it ends in a square hall, which is reached by a staircase. The masonry of the building is in ashlars of stone with a series of hanging arches.

It is possible to enter the basilica through the door of the vestibule, but also through two arched doors, one on the southern side, the other on the northern front.

In the lunette there is a fresco with the scene of “Traditio legis et clavis”, with Jesus Christ who gives the keys to Saint Peter and the book to Saint Paul.

The central passageway of the narthex is delimited in the lower level by two- stucco plates, known as pluteus, bearing on the left the outline of the chimera and on the right the outline of gryphon.

Over the arcade of the narthex there is the impressive “Apocalyptic dragon”. In the middle of the scene, in a mandorla, there is Christ sitting on the throne.

The lower part of the fresco portrays the fierce apocalyptic dragon leaning forward a new born baby. On the left the baby’s mother is lying on a blanket and is warmed by the sunbeams, with the moon at her feet.The infant is brought to safety by a maid and presented to Christ by an angel. In the meanwhile the angels, led by Saint Michael, plunge their lances into the body of the dragon and in the six small heads coming out from its neck.

The ciborium is the niche surmonting the altar. It’s made up of four columns supporting a tympanum structure with some wonderful stuccos and it seems to protect the altar.

The crypt is situated under the nave and not under the presbytery as it is usually found in Romanesque buildings, probably because of the inclination of the ground. The crypt is made up of three naves and each one has four spans, covered with cross vaults. These cross vaults are supported by granite columns, with Corinthian- stucco capitals.

THE ORATORY OF SAN BENEDETTO The oratory is dedicated to San Benedetto and it is situated in front of the basilica of San Pietro. The oratory dates back to some decades after the building of the basilica. It has a squared plan with three semi-circular apses and a small rectangular chamber. It was built using pebbles set in horizontal lines. The finding of graves has justified the idea that the building was used for funeral purposes and as a place of meditation and prayer.

The history of the foundation of the basilica of San Pietro al Monte is told in various legends all narrating that this was due to the fulfilment of a vow made by Adelchi, son of the Longobard king Desiderio. The young man became blind, while hunting a wild pig which had found shelter in a mountain chapel where a hermit was praying. Adelchi promised to build a church dedicated to Saint Peter if he had regained his sight. He recovered at once and his father Desiderio helped him to keep his vow, he asked Pope Stephen III for Saint Peter’s relics, at present kept in the parish church of Civate.

There are no records to prove the Longobard foundation of the church of S. Pietro al Monte. One hypothesy is that the church was built by the Longobards because of their cult of saints connected to cemeterial sites, like Michael the weigher of souls and Peter the keeper of heaven.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Giovanna Virgilio; “La basilica di San Pietro al Monte a Civate”; Bellavite (Editore in Missaglia).

Selene Brambilla; Elisabetta Caimi; Roberta Pozzoli; Valentina De Simone; Federica Martini; Chiara Mariani.