Narni - Concattedrale di San Giovenale

The Narni Cathedral (aka "Concattedrale di San Giovenale", "Duomo di Narni") was built from 1047 on and consecrated in 1145 by Pope Eugenius III. A smaller church had existed here since the 6th century. It had been erected over the tomb of San Giovenale, an early missionary in southern Umbria, the first bishop here and today the patron saint of Narni.

Inside the cathedral is this chapel, containing the tomb of San Giovenale. It is probably much older than the cathedral. In 878 Adalbert I, Margrave of Tuscany, had attacked Narni. He had stolen the holy bodies of Giovenale, Faustus and Fausta - and damaged the tombs.

"Corpora sanctorum abstacta sunt .. sarcofaga rupta sund, mausolea fracta".

Adalbert got excommunicated, but the ban was lifted, when he delivered the relics back. To secure the body of San Giovenale, he got secretly re-buried in a cave under the church - and forgotten. The cave was rediscovered in 1642 - and can be reached via the chapel.