Church of Santo Spirito

The Church of Santo Spirito is a church in Ferrara, located in the western part of the historical center of the city.

SHORT HISTORY

The works for the construction of the Church of the Holy Spirit began in 1519. On the death of Duke Alfonso I d’Este, in 1534, the works were interrupted, but the structure was largely completed.

In 1570, the church was heavily damaged by the disastrous earthquake that struck the city. Immediately after the earthquake, it was decided to renovate the church and the adjacent convent. The works were completed only in 1630, and the church was consecrated in 1656 by Cardinal Carlo Pio.

The convent and the church experienced their period of greatest prestige during the end of the 17th century and throughout the 18th century.

Between 1796 and 1799, the French troops of Napoleon Bonaparte settled in the convent. In 1810, all the friars were expelled and the convent was placed at the disposal of the army. On that occasion, many documents were lost. The convent was reopened in 1816.

In 1830, the ceiling of the church collapsed, destroying all the decorations and paintings of the vaults.

With the royal decree of June 7, 1866, the religious orders were suppressed and their properties passed to the State. The convent was taken away from the Order of Friars Minor and underwent various uses. Part of the convent was used for private apartments, part for the University.

ARCHITECTURE

The interior of the church is large and bright, and divided by a few altars of grandiose dimensions. Inside, there are some noteworthy paintings, as well as the miraculous statue of Saint Anthony of Padua.

HOW TO GET THERE

The Church of Santo Spirito is located about 2.3 kilometers away from the Ferrara railway station. The closest bus stop is Montebello Bovelli, located about 150 meters away in Via Montebello, on the bus Lines 4 and 7.