SHARRYLAND
The Basilica of Sant'Antonino in Piacenza
The great basilica with the most beautiful bell tower in the city, and the atrium of Paradise
Where is
What is it and where is the basilica of Sant'Antonino
The basilica of Sant'Antonino in Piacenza is a large Romanesque brick building in the center of a beautiful square, a key stop on the Via Francigena. The exterior is majestic, with a gabled facade. Two side chapels are noted and behind the beautiful octagonal bell tower with three orders of mullioned windows. The interior, supported by mighty pillars, has a Gothic appearance, despite numerous Baroque interventions. Beautiful frescoes in the presbytery, between Mannerism and Baroque, are the work of Camillo Gavasetti, an early 17th-century painter from Emilia, little known but very skilled at depicting light.
Not to be missed: the cloister
Before leaving, it is a must to visit the small but elegant Renaissance cloister, with its capitals all different, a delightful green corner in the center of the city.
Why it's special: the Atrium of Paradise
The right transept, in the Gothic period was extended by an atrium, called the Atrium of Paradise , a very tall ogive arch surmounted by a rose window and crowned by pinnacles. The name comes from the fact that the dead used to pass through there. The portal below, on the other hand, is older and is a marvel, with typical Romanesque bands, depictions of Adam and Eve on the pillars, telamons supporting the columns, and the very curious ones supporting the doorposts.
A bit of history
Of very ancient foundation, the basilica was rebuilt in the 11th century, after destruction following the Hungarian invasion, and remodeled several times. From the late 1300s are the Atrium of Paradise and the rebuilding of the ceiling in Gothic forms. The cloister is from the late 1400s.
Curiosity: the antecedent of the Peace of Constance.
In this church, right under the Atrium of Paradise, on April 30, 1183, the "Sacramenta Pacis," i.e., the document that laid the foundation for the Peace of Constance, signed two months later, was drawn up. Among those present were delegates of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and those of the Lombard League, the bishop and many mayors of Piacenza. It sanctioned the end of the revolt of the Italian communes against the emperor. Formally its authority was recognized; in practice, however, the communes retained the ability to govern themselves.
Enter the Map of Italy's Undiscovered Wonders and find treasures where you least expect it... Inspire, Recommend, Share...
The Map thanks:
Enter the Map of Italy's Undiscovered Wonders and find treasures where you least expect it... Inspire, Recommend, Share...
Where is
