Chiesa di San Silvestro Papa

On a rocky spur in the Italian countryside stands the Chiesa di San Silvestro Papa, a church built to the enduring rhythm of the basilica plan. Its long, rectangular form is divided into three aisles, the central one flat-roofed, the side aisles vaulted, all separated by square stone pillars. The main entrance faces southeast; the northwest wall is hewn directly into the hillside, while the northeast side, where the bell tower rises, barely detaches itself from the rock. A chapel and sacristy extend to the north. The masonry is a patchwork of materials, and the roof, a simple four-sloped affair, is supported by wooden trusses. Inside, the presbytery is raised, a common feature in churches of this type to elevate the altar and make it visible to the congregation. The stone portal, plain and solid, marks the threshold. It is a structure that speaks of function and place, of a church built into its landscape rather than merely upon it.

Description via source. Coordinates and heritage data from the Atika atlas.