Orvieto

Title

Orvieto

Also Known As

La Badia

Dates

Founded 11th century; Olivetan from 1423; abandoned by 1449

Dedication

Severus; Martirio

Affiliation

Prémontré

Medieval Diocese

Orvieto

Circary

Rome

History

Originally a Benedictine community in existence at least by the mid-11th century, although by tradition it has its origins in the early Middle Ages. In 1221 Orvieto joined the Premonstratensian Order. The abbey's 12th-century church is distinguished by its unusual campanile—supposedly financed by Matilda, countess of Tuscany—and its surviving 13th-century frescoes.

In 1423, Martin V gave the abbey to the Olivetan Order, but this translation was unsuccessful. The monastery was abandoned by 1449. The former monastic complex is now a hotel.

Heads of Community

Abbots

Gervasius, 1226-?
Nicolo I, ?-1265
Martirius, 1265-?
Raynaldus, fl. 1274
Bartholomaeus, 1290-97
Nicolo II, fl. 1385
Joannes Mazey de Pistorio, bef. 1450
Pietro Barbo, 1442-64

Status

Abbey

Bibliography

Bonelli, R. “Un’inedita documentazione sull’abbazia dei Santi Severo e Martirio.” Bollettino dell’Istituto Storico Artistico Orvietano 39 (1983): 97–104.

Cerone, Roberta. “L’Abbazia premostratense dei Santi Severo e Martirio presso Orvieto.” Arte medievale, no. 1 (2006): 97–114.

Fiocca, L. “Chiesa ed abbazia dei Santi Severo e Martirio (fuori di Orvieto).” Bollettino d’Arte 9 (1915): 193–208. https://books.google.com/books?id=mVjrAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA193.

Libera, A. “La Badia dei Santi Severo e Martirio ad Orvieto.” L’architettura. Cronache e storia 15 (1969): 192–99.

Meuthen, Erich. “I primi commendatari dell’Abbazia dei SS. Severo e Martrio in Orvieto.” Bollettino dell’Istituto Storico Artistico Orvietano 10 (1954): 37–40.

Image Credit

View of the monastery of Santi Severo e Martirio, 1975. Wikimedia.

Files

Collection

Rome

Citation

“Orvieto,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/58.

Geolocation

Item Relations

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