Last minute Itinerari Sant'Anatolia di Narco

''Lo Spagna'' at Gavelli: in search of the works of Giovanni di Pietro nearby Sant'Anatolia di Narco

Not far from Sant'Anatolia di Narco is one of the most charming landscapes of all the neighbouring area of the Valnerina, the plain of Gavelli, a place with a varied and fascinating view.

Still in the 50ies it was covered with a luxuriant beech forest and imposing Turkey oaks, some of them centuries old and of enormous dimensions, up to 20 metres high and 150 centimetres in diameter.

Beside spreads out a vast lake area which is perennially under water for the impermeabilization caused by a karst depression which has fostered the development of a little pond fed by a perennial spring.

Gavelli is a little medieval village, at 1153 metres altitude, which keeps jealously some masterpieces of Giovanni di Pietro, known as ''Lo Spagna''.

His frescoes can be seen in the church Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo, that has been completely restored in the 15^th century. In this gem in the mountains Lo Spagna painted some of his masterpieces from 1518 to 1523.

In the apsidal basin is the ''Coronation of the Virgin among Angels and Saints'', below the Apostles and in the centre the Archangel Michael. The pillars at the side of the basin are decorated with grotesques. These frescoes represent some testimonials from the best period of Lo Spagna who shows to know and to have learned the Roman works of Raphael and therefore got close to the most famous masters of all times.

In the Chapel of St Jerome the frescoes show Our Lady with the Infant Jesus and Angels, St Jerome, St Francis and St Antonio da Padova, whereas in the Chapel of St Sebastian we can see Our Lady with the Infant Jesus in Gloria, St Sebastian, St Caterina d'Alessandria, St Apollonia and St John the Baptist.