San Pietro Alli Marmi

About

The Basilica of St. Peter Alli Marmi (Italian: Badia di San Pietro Alli Marmi) is a Basilica comprising a church and a monastery. It is located in Eboli, 33 kilometers away from the city of Salerno, in Italy. Originally known as the Basilica of Saint Peter Apostle, it was built at the bottom of the hill of Montedoro, where the old medieval site of the city was situated. It is one of the distinctive landmarks of the region and an important tourist destination. Its construction displays the strong influence of Norman and Baroque architecture. The church contains the remains of Saint Berniero. Attached to the church is the convent of the Capuchin friars, originally inhabited by the Benedictines. The Basilica has a characteristic cloister that incorporates an African Museum (administrated by missionary friars) and the Library of the Capuchins, which has a collection of over 15,000 volumes. A distinctive element of the Basilica is the bell tower.

The presence of Robert Guiscard in Salerno suggests that the initial foundations of the Basilica might have coincided with the construction of Cathedral of San Matteo in Salerno around 1076. The inscription in Latin on a dedicatory plaque within the church indicates that the construction was completed in 1156. Following its completion, the Basilica was entrusted to the Benedictines until the year 1557. In the 11th and 12th centuries, the church of St. Peter of Eboli was part of three local feudal domains created by the Roman Catholic Prelates appointed by the Lombards. This manor included the church, the village of Battipaglia and open land adjacent to the Sele (river). It was administered from the village of Santa Maria a Corte, in which the regional episcopal office and local Baiulus was located.

In 1743, Benedict XIV assigned the abbey of Saint Peter to the College of Chinese, directed by Matteo Ripa. From 1886, the friars of The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin permanently acquired the complex of the Basilica.

In 1929, the ceiling and columns of the central and left-side aisles of the church collapsed. While the capitols were reassembled after that event, a significant portion of the mullioned windows could not be preserved. The nomenclature Basilica of St. Peter Alli Marmi was assigned in 1930, due to the significant presence of marble within the complex.

The Basilica of St. Peter alli Marmi is still a practicing monastery, inhabited by the Capuchin friars. It is also used as a venue for weddings and public events:

- " This crosses the Convent " (Italian: "Questo passa il convento" ): a street food and music event aimed at fundraising

- " Berniero 2018 ": the 2nd edition of the festival dedicated to Saint Berniero and his pilgrimage

- " Francisco's garden " (Italian: "L'orto di Francesco" ): an event organized by the Municipality of Eboli in collaboration with the Secular Franciscan Order of Eboli

- "FL. 4,13 - Fra Humble: Him, us, you" (Italian: " FL. 4,13 - Fra Umile: Lui, noi, voi") : a literary event by Giuseppe Piegari

- "Freselle in the moonlight" (Italian: "Freselle al chiaro di luna" ): a Folk music event

- "Free in chants" (Italian: "LiberiinCanti") : a choral festival

The Basilica of St. Peter alli Marmi is still a practicing monastery, inhabited by the Capuchin friars. It is also used as a venue for weddings and public events:

- " This crosses the Convent " (Italian: "Questo passa il convento" ): a street food and music event aimed at fundraising

- " Berniero 2018 ": the 2nd edition of the festival dedicated to Saint Berniero and his pilgrimage

- " Francisco's garden " (Italian: "L'orto di Francesco" ): an event organized by the Municipality of Eboli in collaboration with the Secular Franciscan Order of Eboli

- "FL. 4,13 - Fra Humble: Him, us, you" (Italian: " FL. 4,13 - Fra Umile: Lui, noi, voi") : a literary event by Giuseppe Piegari

- "Freselle in the moonlight" (Italian: "Freselle al chiaro di luna" ): a Folk music event

- "Free in chants" (Italian: "LiberiinCanti") : a choral festival

The architecture of the Basilica of St. Peter Alli Marmi is inspired by Norman architecture. It is centered around a rectangular cloister bordered by a portico covered with groin vaults, that are supported by semicircular arches. The keystones of the arches are adorned with noble coats of arms.

The structure encompasses three levels and an additional attic floor. On the first floor, cells overlooking the cloister are connected by a corridor and the second floor can be reached by a secondary staircase. The planimetric distribution is the same in every floor.