Chiesa degli Ottimati
The Chiesa degli Ottimati (also: Chiesa di Santa Maria Annunziata , German "Church of the Optimates " / " Church of the Annunciation ") is an ancient Byzantine - Norman church in Reggio Calabria . It is in Piazza Castello .
The church was built in the 10th century and got its name from the ancient Cripta degli Ottimati , which had been used as the foundation of the church and which came from the Norman era (12th century). It was dedicated to Gregory the Great . A legend tells that Sant'Alberto del Convento dell'Annunziata di Trapani already admired the church during a visit to Reggio (around 1256/57). Today it is looked after by the neighboring Jesuit College .
Optimates
The Ottimati (Congregazione degli Ottimati) were in this case a congregation of nobles that had been founded by the Normans. From this time there are still family coats of arms , among which the families Filocamo , Griso , Altavilla and Borbone di Napoli can be recognized and there were probably other coats of arms of the Nesci, Spanò and Genoese-Zerbi.
history
An old building plan, which is kept at the Soprintendenza Archeologica della Calabria (Archaeological Superintendent of Calabria), shows that the original building bears strong similarities to other Byzantine churches in Calabria . This is an indication that the Chiesa degli Ottimati can be dated to the 10th century.
The original church had a square floor plan and three east-facing apses that were hidden from the outside by an additional wall. The three naves were covered with five domes based on the Byzantine model, as can be found, for example, at the Cattolica di Stilo , the Church of San Marco in Rossano and the San Giorgio di Pietra Cappa near San Luca .
In Norman times, possibly under Roger II , a second church was built on top of the old church, consecrated to Gregory the Great and in which the domed roof was replaced by cross vaults.
During the Saracen invasion on September 3, 1594, the church was damaged and set on fire.
After the destruction of the ancient image of the Annunciazione , the Congregation commissioned the young Agostino Ciampelio Fiorentino to create a new altarpiece and in December 1597 they received the new image from Rome from “SS. Vergine Annunciata ”, Ciampelio's work of great artistic value.
After the suppression of the Jesuit order in 1767, the church was temporarily abandoned, but in 1780 the church was given special protection by Ferdinand I. After severe damage from the earthquakes in 1783 and 1908, the church was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century.
In 1916, a part was first removed and major construction work began, which lasted until 1933. The reconstruction was under the supervision of the Scuola del Beato Angelico from Milan , under the direction of the architect Pompilio Seno . He retained the Byzantine blueprint for the Cappella degli Ottimati .
The current church in the Arab-Norman style also has a three-aisled building plan. It has cross vaults supported by central pillars. Some tesserae of the magnificent mosaic floor and missing columns were supplemented by very similar pieces from the Norman basilica of Santa Maria di Terreti , which was completely destroyed in the earthquake.
gallery
"L'Annunciazione" by Agostino Ciampelli
Byzantine mosaic floor
View of the church from Via Castello
Portal of the Church.
Web links
- Google Maps
- Homepage of a tourist information office.
- maridelsud.com
Coordinates: 38 ° 6 ′ 25.6 ″ N , 15 ° 38 ′ 36 ″ E