Matera Cathedral
The Cathedral of Matera ( Italian Cathedral of the Madonna della Bruna e di Sant'Eustachio ) is a Roman Catholic church in Matera , Italy . The Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Matera-Irsina is under the invocation of the Visitation of the Blessed Mother and St. Eustachius and has the title of a minor basilica . The church was built in the 13th century in the Apulian-Romanesque style and stands on the highest point of the city between the two Sassi .
history
On the site of the old Benedictine monastery of St. Eustachius, the city's patron saint, construction of the cathedral began in 1230. A few years earlier, Pope Innocent III. the city of Matera in combination with Acerenza raised to the archdiocese . Due to its size, the new church should dominate the surrounding buildings and the two valleys at the foot of the Sassi. For this purpose, the bedrock had to be raised by more than six meters. The cathedral was completed in 1270 and then dedicated to Mary. In a resolution of 1318, the church received the title of Maria dell'Episcopio and from 1389, as Pope Urban VI. (previously Archbishop of Matera) founded the feast of the Visitation of Mary, the church was officially called Santa Maria della Bruna. Maria was also a patron saint of the city. In 1629 Fabrizio Antinori, Archbishop of Matera, appointed the patron saints of Madonna della Bruna and Eustachio.
On July 2, 1962, Pope John XXIII awarded the cathedral also has the title of a minor basilica . In 1991 Pope John Paul II visited the church. After an extensive restoration that began in 2003, the church was solemnly consecrated again by Cardinal Pietro Parolin , State Secretary of the Vatican, on March 5, 2016 in the presence of several bishops. On this occasion he also opened the Holy Door on the occasion of the Holy Year .
description
Unlike the interior, which has seen many changes over time, the exterior of the church has remained practically unchanged. The facade is dominated by a large rose window with 16 rays. Above it is a statue of the Archangel Michael and next to the window two male figures who are also seen as other angels. Below is a figure that is shown as an atlas and thus seems to be carrying the window. There are four pillars next to the rose window, while twelve more are under the gable. Together they symbolize the four evangelists and the twelve apostles. The pillars rest on atlases. In the middle of the facade is the entrance gate with a round arch above it. Inside the arch is a statue of Maria della Bruna. Next to the gate are statues of Peter and Paul , at the corners of the facade there are statues from the 16th century, which are in high relief of Eustachius and his wife Theopista. On the right side of Piazza Duomo there are two more gates, the rear one of which is the most characteristic. This is called the Lion Gate because of the two carved lions that sit on pedestals and supporting pillars. In the lunette above the other door is a relief of Abraham, the father of the monotheistic religions, all of which were present in Matera when the church was built. The bell tower is to the left behind the church. It was built at the same time as the church and is 52 meters high and extends over four floors. Three floors have double-row windows and the fourth single one. The tower was later given a pyramid-shaped roof.
inner space
The church was built as a three-aisled basilica on the plan of a Latin cross. The higher central nave is separated from the side aisles by two rows with ten columns, the central nave is illuminated on both sides by five large windows in the upper aisle . The separated crossing is separated with crossing arches, the roof is raised to a flat top.
From 1627 the interior design was changed considerably with decorative stucco and other decorations. The stucco work as well as the arches and moldings above the columns were partially covered with gold leaf in 1776. In 1719 the church received a new wooden ceiling, which was decorated with three paintings by the Calabrian painter Battista Santoro in the 19th century. Significant is a fresco in the Byzantine style from 1270, which shows the Madonna della Bruna with the baby Jesus, it makes a blessing gesture with two fingers. The painting is attributed to Rinaldo da Taranto. It stands on the altar of the first chapel in the left aisle. The altar in the second chapel is dedicated to St. Dedicated to John of Matera . Here is a sarcophagus with his relics. The third altar is St. Dedicated to Anna with a painting from 1633 by Francesco da Martina. Behind the sacrament chapel is a renaissance chapel of the Annunciation . This chapel by Giulio Persio has a coffered ceiling and niches in the walls. On the back of the left aisle is the chapel where the nativity scene is located. A stone sculpture from 1534 by Altobello Persio and Sannazaro di Alessano shows various elements related to the city of Matera. A richly executed altar with a stone sculpture also comes from Altobello Persio. This work dates from 1539 and is now on the back of the left transept.
The main altar from 1627 has a large altarpiece by Fabrizio Santafede. Here Mary can be seen surrounded by saints. In the apse are the precious wooden choir stalls from 1453. Giovanni Tantino di Ariano Irpino made the wood carving of this solid walnut furniture. The choir stalls have 60 seats. A pipe organ was installed above the altar. It was last restored by Fratelli Ruffatti from Padua and has two manuals and a pedal. The organ has 36 registers.
In the first chapel in the right aisle there is a statue of the Virgin Mary between Saints Hilary and John of Matera, a work of art by Domizio Persio from 1592. At the lion gate there is a painting of Saint Cajetanus, made in 1652 by Carlo Rosa. The altar has a crucifix made of polychrome wood from the 16th century. The last altar is the work of Vito Antonio Conversi. There is a precious fresco of the Last Judgment at the main entrance . This 14th-century painting has resurfaced during restoration work and is the only example of an original painting of the church by Rinaldo di Taranto.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Basilica Cattedrale di S. Maria Assunta della Bruna on gcatholic.org
- ^ Antonio Di Giacomo: Matera, dopo 13 anni riapre la cathedral: il viaggio in anteprima nel gioiello restaurato. Repubblica.it, February 26, 2016, accessed March 9, 2016 .
- ↑ organ (Italian)
Coordinates: 40 ° 40 ′ 0.5 ″ N , 16 ° 36 ′ 40.7 ″ E