Church of the Holy Cross

Built in the 12th century but restored in 1856 and 1957, the Romanesque facade of this church is rather plain. Cream and red terracotta stones give it an almost cottage-like look, and you can’t help but smile at the potted plants blooming by the door – lovingly tended by Semproniano’s pastor.

But it is a completely different story when you go through the worn wooden doors. Beautifully polished trusses with a sense of grandeur cover the roof, and 18th-century black and white marble runs along the walls in a neo-Gothic style. It is quite spectacular and makes you wonder how such a magnificent and large church could have been squeezed into such a quaint exterior.

Keep an eye out for the 16th-century depiction of the Pieta and a Renaissance character carved entirely in vivid green travertine.
The faded but still extremely expressive wooden crucifix, which also adorns the walls, was made in the Middle Ages and is honored every 25 years with a solemn one-day celebration.

Photo by Matteo Vinattieri via Wikipedia Commons.