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 [...]