Cathedral of the Civita Castellana
The Cathedral of Civita Castellana ( Italian Duomo di Civita Castellana ) or the Cathedral Santa Maria Maggiore ( Italian Cattedrale di Santa Maria Maggiore ) is a cathedral in the central Italian Civita Castellana . The Marienkirche is the bishopric of the diocese Civita Castellana with the additional title of a minor basilica .
history
The first church of Santa Maria was built in the 9th – 10th Erected in the 16th century on the site of a pagan temple using a 7th and 8th century crypt. Since 990 cathedral it was rebuilt in the late twelfth century with the additional name Maggiore, probably at the end of the conflicts between the city authorities and Pope Innocent III. Work began on the crypt around 1180, which also affected the presbytery. As an interim solution, a small oratory was built for the masses, which is now consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Mary and is located on the south side of the church. The cathedral was built as a Romanesque basilica with three apse aisles and completed with the portal in 1210. The altar area is very high due to the crypt. The portico, floors and interior fittings were designed by Kosmaten with mosaics, among other things. The construction of the bell tower dates back to the 13th century.
The medieval building has been redesigned over the decades. Between 1736 and 1740 the cathedral was radically changed into a baroque structure according to the ideas of Bishop Giovanni Francesco Maria Tenderini (1718–1739) . The church was converted into a single nave by Gaetano Fabrizi, the side aisles were converted into six connected chapels, and the side apses into devotional chapels. The half-timbered ceiling was replaced by a barrel vault and a Tiburio was built over the crossing .
A plaque on the outside of the building commemorates the stay of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Civita Castellana on July 17, 1770, when he also played Sunday mass. In the 1970s, the perimeter and exterior structures of the cathedral were restored and reinforced while respecting the original design.
Furnishing
In the choir is one of the most valuable works of art in the church, the high altar. It consists of a Roman-Paleochristian sarcophagus from the 4th century with seven niches that are decorated with biblical episodes. At the end of the presbytery, above the wooden choir stalls, there is a canvas by Pietro Nelli (Annunciation), on the sides there are two frescoes of the Resurrection of John and the Martyrdom of the Saints. In the arms of the transept stand two monumental Baroque altars: the right one is dedicated to the Madonna of Light and contains a fresco from the 11th century; the left altar is dedicated to the Madonna of the Rosary and has a canvas painting from the 16th century, which is surrounded by 15 panels.
The Oratory of the Heart of Mary is decorated with several 12th century frescoes depicting a Madonna with saints, an angel and other saints. In the front part there is a sarcophagus from the early Middle Ages (9th century) with depictions of hunting scenes. Under the presbytery there is a crypt with cross vaults from the 12th century, which was later renewed. It is home to two marble ciboria from the Renaissance , which were originally built in the presbytery and have been installed during the renovation works of the 18th century.
literature
- P. Rossi, Civita Castellana e le chiese medievali del suo territorio, Roma, 1986.
- A. Cardinali, Cenni storici della chiesa cattedrale di Civita Castellana, Roma, 1935.
- PC Claussen, Magistri doctissimi romani: the Roman marble artists of the Middle Ages, Stuttgart 1987.
Web links
- Church of Santa Maria Maggiore on beweb.chiesacattolica.it (Italian)
Individual evidence
- ^ Basilica Cattedrale di S. Maria Maggiore on gcatholic.org
Coordinates: 42 ° 17 ′ 14.5 " N , 12 ° 24 ′ 38.2" E