Cathedral of Sant’Ambrogio

The Cathedral of Sant’Ambrogio, dedicated to Saint Ambrose, is the Cathedral of Vigevano, located in the wonderful Piazza Ducale.

Due to its beauty, the concave facade of the Cathedral of Vigevano is considered one of the most refined examples of Baroque architecture not only in Lombardy, but throughout Italy.

SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL OF SANT’AMBROGIO

According to a document of 963, a primitive church dedicated to Sant’Ambrogio already existed in Vigevano at that time. The ancient church was rebuilt in the second half of the 14th century.

The diocese of Vigevano was created by Pope Clement VII on March 16, 1530, at the request of Francesco II Sforza, Duke of Milan.

In 1532, the construction of the new cathedral began at the behest of the same Francesco II Sforza, based on a project by the architect Antonio da Lonate.

Of the previous church, the apse and some fragments of the decorative arches in Gothic-Lombard style were preserved.

After Francesco II Sforza died in 1535, the works continued to be financed by the faithful, the Municipality and by various bishops of the city. The construction reached the roof level in 1553.

Under the guidance of bishop Giorgio Odescalchi, the Cathedral of Vigevano was completed in 1606. The church was consecrated on April 24, 1612.

Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz, bishop of the city between 1673 and 1682, designed and built the grandiose Baroque facade of the cathedral.

Caramuel made a number of changes to the square, eliminating the original access ramp to Castello Sforzesco, and completing the portico under the Bramante tower, shifting the focus from the castle to the cathedral.

Thus, Piazza Ducale became from the entrance to the castle, which represented the civil power, to an antechamber for the cathedral, which symbolized the ecclesiastical power.

In 1716, the dome with the copper covering was completed, and in 1753 the sacristy was finished.

The bell tower of the cathedral, originally built in the 14th century, was elevated first in 1450, and then in 1818, with the construction of the belfry surmounted by merlons, reaching its current height.

Numerous restoration works followed throughout the 19th century, including the construction of the high altar, between 1828 and 1830, by Alessandro Sanquirico, and the decoration of the grandiose and luminous interior with three naves by Francesco Gonin, Mauro Conconi, Vitale Sala, Cesare Ferrari and the painter Giovan Battista Garberini.

ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE CATHEDRAL OF VIGEVANO

The concave facade of the Cathedral of Sant’Ambrogio was designed to compensate for the asymmetry of the building with the square in front.

The interior of the church has a Latin cross plan, with three naves.

The second chapel in the left aisle, dedicated to Saints James (Giacomo) and Christopher (Cristoforo), in addition to a valuable 17th-century altar, houses the Biffignandi Polyptych, work by Bernardo Ferrari.

In the Chapel of San Carlo, two other recently restored works by the same painter are conserved: the Gusberti Triptych and a Saint Thomas of Canterbury between Saints Helena and Agatha.

In the other side chapels, there are interesting 16th-century Lombard paintings by Cesare Magni and Ferdinando Gatti.

Of great interest is also the pipe organ located in the presbytery, built in 1782 by the Serassi family of Bergamo.

THE TREASURY OF THE CATHEDRAL OF SANT’AMBROGIO

The Cathedral of Vigevano is famous for its treasury, which preserves manuscripts, missals, pastorals, chalices, sacred vases, reliquaries, and tapestries from the 15th to the 19th century.

In addition to six notable panels from the 15th century by Bernardo Ferrari, it houses a stupendous reliquary in gilded silver, attributed to Benvenuto Cellini.

Noteworthy are also the Flemish and Lombard tapestries of the 15th and 16th centuries.

HOW TO GET TO THE CATHEDRAL OF VIGEVANO

The Cathedral of Sant’Ambrogio is located about 600 meters or about 10 minutes on foot from the Vigevano railway station. To easily find the church, use the map below.