Name: Church of San Giovanni Battista
Address: Piazza Libertà, Bassano del Grappa, Veneto, Italy

The Church of San Giovanni Battista is a church in Bassano del Grappa, located in the historical center of the town, in Piazza Libertà.

SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SAN GIOVANNI BATTISTA

The church was erected in 1308 at the behest of the de’ Biasi family on a piece of land belonging to a hospital, located outside the Ezzelinian walls, along the road that led to Campo Marzio.

The license was issued by Bishop Altegrado da Lendinara.

In 1397, the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (Cappella del Santissimo Sacramento) was added to the original church, which was expanded on this occasion.

A general renovation took place during the 15th century and a document from 1435 states that a new Chapel dedicated to Saints James and Christopher was also built.

In 1454, the church was enlarged again, and in 1460 the main door towards the square was opened. In 1489, the choir was rebuilt, the current Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows (Cappella dell’Addolorata).

The current church dates back, in large part, to the renovation begun in 1747, then suspended for several years and resumed in 1782.

This renovation was entrusted to the architect Giovanni Miazzi from Bassano del Grappa, and the church is believed to represent his main work.

According to tradition, it was built with the high altar facing east and the main entrance to the west, but with the 18th-century renovation, the main facade, inaugurated in 1813, was built towards the square.

Therefore, the church has a north-south orientation and a unique plan – it is in fact developed in width rather than in length as required by canonical plans and norms.

The church was consecrated in 1847 by Zaccaria Bricito, bishop of Udine born in Bassano.

After repairs for the serious damage suffered during the Second World War, the church was reconsecrated in 1952 by Egidio Negrin from Vicenza, archbishop of Ravenna and then bishop of Treviso.

During the years 1980 and 1981, cleaning and consolidation works were carried out on the external structures, roof, statues and bell-tower.

ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH OF SAN GIOVANNI BATTISTA

Church of San Giovanni Battista

The monumental neo-Palladian facade almost entirely closes the southern side of Piazza Libertà.

The statues on the facade are by Antonio Bosa, and represent on the central pediment Saint John the Baptist, Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Above the wings of the facade, there are Saint Clement and three Doctors of the Church (saints recognized as having made a significant contribution to theology).

The interior of the church runs parallel to the facade due to the limited space available.

The low vaulted ceiling features a central fresco by the painter Giovanni Scajario, according to some, others by the Rimini painter Giulio Golini, depicting the Baptism of Christ.

On the left of the main entrance is the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, an interesting 18th-century construction decorated with stuccoes by Abbondio Stazio and Carpoforo Mazzetti, from Milan.

The small altarpiece inside the Chapel of the Sacrament, depicting Saint John the Baptist as a young man in the desert, is an early masterpiece by the Venetian painter Giambattista Piazzetta.

The statues of the angels, the cherubs and the bas-reliefs above the side doors are by Orazio Marinali, to whom the street that runs along the left side of the church was dedicated.

The frescoes on the ceiling with the figures of the Evangelists are by Antonio Balestra.