Chapel of St. Agatha

Lying behind the Church of San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno is the charming Chapel of St. Agatha. The chapel was built by monks in the mid-11th-century as a way of celebrating and commemorating the Pisans battle victory over the Palermitans. I

t was dedicated to St. Agatha who underwent an unpleasant martyr's death in Sicily. Although there is no definitive proof of who designed the chapel, its distinctive octagonal shape suggests it was the work of Diotisalvi.

The octagonal exterior features pilasters, mullioned windows, and a distinctive pyramid-shaped cusp while inside can be seen some wall decorations that date right back to the 12th-century.

The Chapel of St. Agatha was originally connected to San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno but the connecting parts of the complex were destroyed during WWII bombing raids. A sensitive post-war decision was made to leave this delightful little chapel standing alone in its own parkland.

Created: 09 Aug 2013
Last update: 25 Jun 2023
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