The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Geminiano is the Cathedral of Modena, located on Corso Duomo, in the historical center of the city. The Cathedral of Modena is a masterpiece of the Romanesque style, built on the site of the tomb of San Geminiano (Saint Geminianus), patron saint of Modena. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Geminiano, along with its bell tower (Torre Ghirlandina) and the adjacent Piazza Grande were included in 1997 in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA AND SAN GEMINIANO After the ancient Mutina was destroyed by invasions, earthquakes and floods, and the inhabitants moved to Cittanova, the bishop continued to reside in the main church of the city, where the remains of the patron saint were kept. Over time, a residential nucleus formed around the church, which became the center of today’s Modena. Around the middle of the 11th century, the ancient church was replaced by a larger one, which, however, due to the lack of skills of the builders, threatened to collapse towards the end of the century. Consequently, the people of Modena, independently from the imperial and ecclesiastical powers Read more [...]
All Churches in Emilia-Romagna
Italy has many churches, and all of them are beautiful and full of spectacular works of art. The main church of the city is referred as Il Duomo, but you will find churches that are named Basilica, Chiesa or Cattedrale, depending on their size and importance.
Some of the most beautiful churches in Italy are the Basilica di San Marco and the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Basilica di Santa Croce in Florence, the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, the Cathedral of the Nativity of Saint Mary and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Orvieto and the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore in Verona.
Basilica of San Vitale
The Basilica of San Vitale is a church in Ravenna, located in Via San Vitale, a few meters away from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. SHORT HISTORY OF THE BASILICA OF SAN VITALE The Basilica of San Vitale was built by Bishop Ecclesio, starting with 532, and completed by his successor, Archbishop Maximian, in 547, when Ravenna was already ruled by the Roman Emperor Justinian. An exemplary masterpiece of early Byzantine art, the basilica was included in 1996 on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites entitled Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna. ARCHITECTURE OF THE BASILICA OF SAN VITALE The Basilica of San Vitale combines Roman architectural elements (the dome, the portals, the towers) with Byzantine elements (the polygonal apse, the capitals, the bricks). From the geometric shape of the main nucleus, emerge rigorously defined bodies – the raised tiburium (lantern tower), octagonal, and the apse, polygonal on the outside, semicircular on the inside, and flanked by two small rooms. The interior is accessed through two portals – one aligned with the apse, the other oblique. Consequently, also the narthex (antechamber), instead of being tangent to the front side of the octagon, is arranged obliquely. The interior space Read more [...]
Tempio Malatestiano
Tempio Malatestiano, also known as the Cathedral of Santa Colomba, is the Cathedral of Rimini, located in Via IV Novembre. SHORT HISTORY OF TEMPIO MALATESTIANO A chapel dedicated to Santa Maria in Trivio is documented on this site in the 9th century. The chapel was demolished in 1257, to allow the construction of a larger church in Gothic style, dedicated to San Francesco and supported by the Franciscan order. Between the 13th and 14th centuries, two chapels were added on the southern side of the church. Despite its modest size, the structure was enriched by altars and works of art, including works by Giotto. In 1312, it was already used as a burial place for the Malatesta family. Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, decided to built a chapel dedicated to San Sigismondo, and entrusted the project to Matteo de’ Pasti from Verona. On October 31, 1447, the first stone of Tempio Malatestiano was laid. In the following years, after a successful series of victories, Sigismondo decided to extend the project to the entire structure. Leon Battista Alberti was entrusted with the project of a new church, which included the addition of a rotunda in the rear part of Read more [...]
Basilica of San Petronio
With 132 meters in length and 60 meters wide, the Basilica of San Petronio is the sixth largest church in Europe, despite being largely unfinished. Although is not the cathedral of Bologna, a title that belongs to the nearby Cathedral of San Pietro, it can be considered the main church of the city. SHORT HISTORY In the 14th century, the Bolognese aristocracy revived the cult of San Petronio, bishop of Bologna during the 5th century, and planned to build a church dedicated to him. On June 7, 1390, the first stone was laid in a solemn procession. The project was given to the architect Antonio di Vicenzo, who consulted on the design of the church with the father Andrea Manfredi. At the beginning of the 15th century, di Vicenzo died, and the Papal Legate Baldassarre Cossa, an enemy of the Municipality of Bologna, took advantage of the architect’s death to sell the material gathered for the construction of the church. In 1507, the architect Arduino Arriguzzi was comissioned to continue the work. Arriguzzi was sent to Florence to see and study the dome built by Brunelleschi for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. On April 30, 1514, the Read more [...]
Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto
The Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto is a Baroque church in Ravenna, located in Via di Roma, in the southeastern part of the historical center of the city. SHORT HISTORY OF THE BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA IN PORTO In the first half of the 15th century, the Canons Regular of Santa Maria in Porto decided to build their own monastery in Porto Fuori, a village located about 4 kilometers from the walls of Ravenna. However, the Venetian rulers of Ravenna decided that the monastery will be built within the city walls. Therefore, a piece of land near Porta Nuova was purchased in 1496. The canons settled there in 1503, and the construction works on the monastery were completed in 1509. In 1511, the project for a new church was presented by the architect Bernardino Tavella. The construction of the church, however, began only in 1553, and continued in the following decades. On October 8, 1606, the archbishop of Ravenna together with the cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini consecrated the Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto. In 1710, the high altar was built and, in 1784, the facade was completed by the architect Camillo Morigia. In 1797, the French plundered the Read more [...]
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is a funeral monument in Ravenna, located in Via Galla Placidia, in the northern part of the historical center of the city. SHORT HISTORY OF THE MAUSOLEUM OF GALLA PLACIDIA According to tradition, the structure was built by Galla Placidia, daughter of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, and mother of the Emperor Valentinian III, for herself, her husband Constantius III and her brother Honorius. She was Queen consort to Ataulf, King of the Visigoths, between 414 and 415, Empress consort to Constantius III between 417 and 421, and managed the government administration as a regent during the early reign of Valentinian III. Although the legend has it that the body of Galla Placidia was brought back to Ravenna and placed in a sarcophagus in the mausoleum, it was almost certain that she died in Rome in 450, and she was buried in the Honorian Mausoleum. The mausoleum was probably used as a chapel of the Church of the Holy Cross (Chiesa di Santa Croce), located nearby. In 1996, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites entitled Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna. ARCHITECTURE OF THE MAUSOLEUM Read more [...]
Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is the Cathedral of Reggio Emilia, located in Piazza Camillo Prampolini, in the historical center of the city. SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA The first documents attesting to the existence of a church in the area date back to the middle of the 9th century. However, the structure was probably built in the 5th century. At the beginning of the 10th century, after repeated incursions of the Magyars, the Emperor Ludovico III entrusted bishop Pietro with the construction of the walls around the episcopal palace and the Cathedral. On December 26, 1228, the bell tower of the Cathedral collapsed. In 1268, under bishop Guido da Fogliano, the octagonal lantern and the current bell tower were built. In 1522, the enormous embossed copper statue of the Madonna with Child, by Bartolomeo Spani, was placed on the lantern. In 1544, Prospero Sogari, also known as Clemente, was commissioned to build the new facade of the church. The work on the facade started shortly after, but, due to lack of resources, it was stopped after a while. In 1557, the statues of Adam and Eve, also works by Spani, were placed above Read more [...]
Church of Christ
The Church of Christ (Chiesa del Cristo), also known as the Oratory of Christ (Oratorio del Cristo), is a Baroque church in Reggio Emilia. The church is located in Piazza Luigi Roversi, commonly known as Piazza del Cristo, in the southern part of the historical center of the city. SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST The church was built starting with 1758 by the religious congregation Compagnia del Suffragio, to shelter a fresco of a crucifix painted with oil on plaster during the plague which affected the region between 1630 and 1631. The facade of the church was added in 1761, on a project by the architect Giovan Battista Cattani, also known as Cavallari. The church was closed during the Napoleonic era, and it was reopened in 1814. In 1887, the structure was restored under the direction of the engineer Albertini. The church is now home to the Orthodox Romanian congregation. ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST The church has a characteristic Baroque convex facade decorated with statues and emblems. The facade has a large portal in the center, flanked by two pairs of columns with Composite capitals. Between the columns, there are niches housing Read more [...]
Church of San Francesco
The Church of San Francesco, also known as the Church of the Immaculate Conception and of San Francesco, is a church in Reggio Emilia, located in Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio 1960. SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SAN FRANCESCO The church was built in the second half of the 13th century on a pre-existing structure dedicated to San Luca, which served as the chapel of the imperial palace. After having undergone various interventions over the centuries, the church was rebuilt in 1725, according to the project of the architect Giovanni Maria Ferraroni. Between 1856 and 1857, the facade of the church was rebuilt in Neoclassical style by Pietro Marchelli. ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH OF SAN FRANCESCO The church has a terracotta facade surmounted by a triangular pediment supported by pilasters. Above the main portal, there is a mosaic of Saint Francis receiving the stigmata. The interior, in Baroque style, has a single nave with vaulted ceilings, a cupola and the choir. HOW TO GET TO THE CHURCH OF SAN FRANCESCO The church is located about 1 kilometer away from the Reggio Emilia railway station. The closest bus stop is located in Via Nobili, about Read more [...]
Basilica of Santo Stefano
The Basilica of Santo Stefano, also known as the Seven Churches (Sette Chiese), is a complex of religious buildings in Bologna, located in the homonymous square. SHORT HISTORY Around the year 100 AD, a pagan temple dedicated to Isis was built on this site. In 393, Ambrosio, the bishop of Milan, discovered the tombs of the first Christian martyrs of Bologna, Vitale and Agricola, and a small chapel was built near the temple of Isis to preserve their remains. The church is known today as the Church of the Saints Vitale and Agricola. In the 5th century, Petronius, the bishop of Bologna, converted the temple of Isis into a baptistery. Around the year 450, he was buried here. Now, the structure is known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Basilica del Sepolcro). In 727, Liutprand, king of the Lombards, invaded the city and built, to the right of the Holy Sepulcher, a prominent basilica, naming it after San Giovanni Battista (Saint John the Baptist). Later, the religious building became the Church of the Holy Crucifix (Chiesa del Crocifisso). The complex was devastated during the invasion of the Hungarians at the beginning of the 10th century, and was largely Read more [...]
Basilica of San Domenico
The Basilica of San Domenico is an important church in Bologna, located in the homonymous square. The church houses the remains of San Domenico (Saint Dominic), founder of the Dominican Order, who died in 1221 in the adjacent convent. SHORT HISTORY Saint Dominic arrived in Bologna in January 1218, and settled in the convent of the Church of Santa Maria della Purificazione, located outside the city walls. In 1219, the saint moved to the Convent of San Nicolò delle Vigne, where the current basilica stands. Saint Dominic died on August 6, 1221. In 1233, his remains were placed in a cypress chest, enclosed in a simple marble sarcophagus, and placed behind the altar of a side chapel of the right aisle. The following year, San Domenico was canonized by Pope Gregory IX. In 1267, his remains were placed in a monument known as the Ark of Saint Dominic (Arca di San Domenico). Starting with 1228, the old church of San Nicolò delle Vigne was enlarged, with the demolition of the apse and the extension of the nave. The construction works of the new basilica were completed in 1240, with the building of the sober Romanesque facade. The basilica was Read more [...]
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, Read more [...]
Church of San Francesco
The Church of San Francesco is a church dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, located in the homonymous square, in the western part of the historical center of Ferrara. SHORT HISTORY The Church of San Francesco was built in 1494 on a pre-existing building belonging to the Franciscans, which was used until the beginning of the 15th century as a mausoleum for the Este family. The church is considered one of the best creations of the architect Biagio Rossetti. Following the 2012 earthquake, the interior, with the exception of a transept and an adjacent chapel, was for a long time unusable and closed to the public. Currently, the central nave and the right aisle can be visited, while the left aisle is only partially accesible. ART AND ARCHITECTURE The facade has typically Renaissance lines, with the volutes, inspired by Leon Battista Alberti, and the marble pilasters that stand out on the terracotta walls. The interior of the church, with three naves, has a Latin cross plan and eight chapels on each side. In the first chapel on the left, there is a remarkable fresco of the Arrest of Jesus by Benvenuto Tisi, better known as Garofalo. In the Read more [...]
