• Introduction
• The walls
• The church
• The frescoes
• The cross

The Church of San Michele Arcangelo

The original houses of medieval Paganico have in the main vanished as a result of rebuilding. Nevertheless a few traces, some quite notable, do remain, particularly on the central street that connects the Porta Senese to the Porta Grossetana.

The church of San Michele Arcangelo is located in Piazza della Vittoria. It dates from the fourteenth century. From time to time it has been subject to restructuring and restoration, which has resulted in changes from its original appearance. Nevertheless it is still based on its original rectangular plan, with a choir of quadrangular form reached by two stairways. The balustrade, in yellow marble, was a part of a baroque altar that was destroyed during restoration in 1933.

The church contains rare and important frescos of Goro Ghezzi that fill the apse. These have been painted over earlier Byzantine decorative frescoes, parts of which can still be seen at certain points.