Have you already visited the crypt of the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere? San Giovanni in Venere is certainly one of the places to visit during a holiday in the southern area of Abruzzo. The Abbey stands out on a promontory from which you can admire the surrounding cultivated fields and have a 180° view of the stretch of sea. It is located in a panoramic position on the stretch of sea of the Costa dei Trabocchi. It is called “in Venus” almost certainly due to a pre-existing Roman temple dedicated to the goddess Venus. Of this temple, however, no trace remains to this day.
Easily reachable from the Statale 16 (follow the directions), the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere overlooks the sea and there are two viewpoints that you can easily visit. But with this article, rather than dwelling on the church and the marvelous thirteenth-century cloister (here you can read an article that tells them well), we would like – thanks to a photo sent by the reader Valerio Politi – to introduce you to the unexpected crypt.
Below the altar, in fact, is the crypt of the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere. It appears decorated with evocative frescoes dating back to the thirteenth century and which depict the blessing Christ and the Virgin enthroned. They are both works by anonymous painters of the mid-13th century, perhaps belonging to the workshop of the Roman artist Jacopo Torriti.
San Giovanni in Venere is truly a recommended visit for anyone who wants to get to know an important cultural and artistic aspect of the area. We also recommend that you stay a few minutes to contemplate the sea from the wonderful viewpoints directly overlooking the Costa dei Trabocchi.
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