Parish Church of St. Hippolytus.
Mentioned in a document from 714 AD, the church is one of the oldest in the area, and archaeological finds suggest earlier Roman activity. Currently privately owned, the Pieve features a rectangular hall with remnants of a former basilica layout of three naves. Its Romanesque facade is adorned with a simple, round-arched portal. Inside, a frescoed "Sacra Conversazione" might conceal a youthful portrait of Raphael.
A Different Form
The current structure of the Pieve has a single rectangular hall, but it originally had a basilica layout with three naves, likely built by the late 10th century. This is inferred from the round arches, now walled in, visible on both sides. The rear section is hidden by a later construction. The facade, with a lintel portal and round arch, dates back to the Romanesque period.
The Ancient Baptismal Font
In the 11th century, the Pieve lost its significance to the Basilica of Sant’Agata, located within the city walls. The Basilica still holds an ancient baptismal font believed to have originated from the Pieve of Sant'Ippolito. This can be admired on the main altar: made of stone in a truncated cone shape, it is decorated with columns supporting round arches.
The Mystery of the Fresco
Inside is a single altar with a frescoed niche depicting a "Sacra Conversazione" with the Madonna Enthroned with the Child and Saints Peter, Paul, Hippolytus, and Cassian. The fresco extends to faux niches: to the left are St. Dominic and St. Augustine, and to the right are St. Anthony of Padua and a figure concealed by a curtain. Art historian Divo Savelli attributes the fresco to the Umbrian school, specifically the workshop of Pinturicchio. Savelli also suggests that the face of St. Hippolytus may bear the likeness of a young Raphael, who could have created a self-portrait here.