Chapel of San Severo – Perugia

San Severo was probably built above pagan preexistences related to the Etruscan-roman Temple dedicated to the Sun.

After the old church of San Severo was destroyed in order to enlarge the Prior’s Palace, a community of camaldolesi monks coming from Emilia Romagna established here in XV century and built a monastery and a small church annexed to it. For the decoration of one of the lateral chapels, the monks chose the young painter Raffaello Sanzio, who started the fresco depicting the Trinity and six saints of the Camaldoli Order in 1505. In 1508 Raffaello was enthrusted by Pope Giulio II to decorate the Vatican Rooms in Rome; he therefore left Perugia without completing the fresco in San Severo, and never came back to finish his work: he prematurely died in 1520.

Perugino was then called in 1521 by the monks to finish his former student’s work. Because of moisture problems, the community decided to dismantle the church during the 18th century in order to build a new one, which is the one made in brickwork, still officiated, still on site in Raffaello Square. Only the chapel containing Raphael and Perugino’s fresco remain, even if the painting poured in bad conditions due to humidity and underwent several restorations works over the centuries, the last of which in 2022. The monastery of San Severo was unfortunately suppressed by the Italian State and left by the monks; the structure now hosts private apartments.