Acqui Cathedral

Last updated

Acqui Cathedral
Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary
(Cattedrale Maria Santissima Assunta)
Acqui Terme - the cathedral.jpg
The façade of the cathedral
Religion
Affiliation Catholic
Province Piedmont
Location
LocationAcqui Terme, Italy
Architecture
TypeChurch
Style Romanesque
Groundbreaking11c
Completed15c

Acqui Cathedral (Italian : Duomo di Acqui, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) is a Catholic cathedral in the city of Acqui Terme, in the province of Alessandria and the region of Piedmont, Italy. Dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, it is the seat of the Bishop of Acqui.

Contents

History and description

While the bishopric has been established since at least the 4th century, [1] the present cathedral building was begun under bishop Primo (989-1018) and was consecrated in 1067 by bishop Guido. The ground plan is in the shape of a Latin cross, and there are five aisles (but until the 18th century, only three), terminating in three semi-circular apses. Of the Romanesque structure there still remain visible the apses, the transept, and the crypt, which underlies both the transept and the choir. The remainder has been subject to further work in later centuries.

The terracotta bell tower was finished in 1479, and the bells moved from the old campanile. [2] The main entrance in marble, by Giovanni Antonio Pilacorte, dates from 1481, and the rose window above it from around the same date, while the portico is 17th century. The interior was re-fitted in Baroque woodwork, and was decorated with frescos and stucco work from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

Next door are the canons' cloisters of the late 15th century, and some Roman ruins.

Works of art

Triptych of the Virgin of Montserrat, by Bermejo Bartolome Bermejo - Retablo della vergine di Montserrat.jpg
Triptych of the Virgin of Montserrat, by Bermejo

The 19th century pulpit and the Baroque altar of Saint Guido in the transept are worthy of note.

The most important work of art in the cathedral by far however is the Retable of the Virgin of Montserrat , the work of the 15th century Spanish painter Bartolomé Bermejo, in the chapter house. [3]

See also

Notes

  1. Catholic Hierarchy: Diocese of Acqui
  2. Porter, p. 18, with note 24.
  3. Berg-Sobré, J. (1998). Bartolomé de Cárdenas, "El Bermejo": itinerant painter in the crown of Aragon. Iberian studies in history, literature, and civilization. International Scholars Publications. p. 129. ISBN   978-1-57309-062-9.

Sources

44°40′27.17″N8°28′16.36″E / 44.6742139°N 8.4712111°E / 44.6742139; 8.4712111

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acqui Terme</span> Comune in Piedmont, Italy

Acqui Terme is a city and comune in the province of Alessandria, Piedmont, northern Italy. It is about 35 kilometres (22 mi) south-southwest of Alessandria. It is one of the principal winemaking communes of the Italian DOCG wine Brachetto d'Acqui.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bologna Cathedral</span>

Bologna Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Peter, is the cathedral of Bologna in Italy, and the seat and the metropolitan cathedral of the Archbishop of Bologna. Most of the present building dates from the 17th century, with a few parts from the late 16th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parma Cathedral</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cremona Cathedral</span>

Cremona Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Catholic cathedral in Cremona, Lombardy, northern Italy. It is the seat of the Bishop of Cremona. Its bell tower is the famous Torrazzo, symbol of the city and tallest pre-modern tower in Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mantua Cathedral</span> Church in Italy

Mantua Cathedral in Mantua, Lombardy, northern Italy, is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to Saint Peter. It is the seat of the Bishop of Mantua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prato Cathedral</span> Roman Catholic cathedral in Prato, Tuscany, Italy

Prato Cathedral, or Cathedral of Saint Stephen, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Prato, Tuscany, Central Italy, from 1954 the seat of the Bishop of Prato, having been previously, from 1653, a cathedral in the Diocese of Pistoia and Prato. It is dedicated to Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Verona Cathedral</span>

Verona Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Verona, northern Italy, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the designation Santa Maria Matricolare. It is the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Verona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arezzo Cathedral</span> Roman Catholic cathedral in Tuscany, Italy

Arezzo Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Arezzo in Tuscany, Italy. It is located on the site of a pre-existing Palaeo-Christian church and, perhaps, of the ancient city's acropolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarzana Cathedral</span>

Sarzana Cathedral in Sarzana, Liguria, Italy, is a co-cathedral of the Diocese of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The building is a mixture of the Romanesque and Gothic styles, reflecting the length of the period of its construction, from the early 13th to the late 15th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catania Cathedral</span> Cathedral in Catania, Sicily, Italy

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Agatha, usually known as the Catania Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. It was the seat of the Bishops of Catania until 1859, when the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese, and since then has been the seat of the Archbishops of Catania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cagliari Cathedral</span>

Cagliari Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and to Saint Cecilia. It is the seat of the archbishop of Cagliari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teramo Cathedral</span>

Teramo Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Teramo, Abruzzo, central Italy, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and to Saint Berardo, patron saint of the city. It is the seat of the Bishop of Teramo-Atri. Built in Romanesque-Gothic style, it was consecrated in 1176.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucera Cathedral</span> Cathedral in Lucera, Italy

Lucera Cathedral is the cathedral of Lucera, Apulia, Italy. The dedication is to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary but it is also popularly known as Santa Maria della Vittoria from the statue of the Madonna kept here. It is the seat of the Bishop of Lucera-Troia, and is also a minor basilica. In its present form it originates mostly from the 14th century. It is one of the very few buildings in Apulia in which the Gothic architectural style of the medieval French rulers appears almost unaltered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terni Cathedral</span>

Terni Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Terni, Umbria, Italy, and the seat of the bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tivoli Cathedral</span>

Tivoli Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral, dedicated to Saint Lawrence, in Tivoli, Lazio, Italy. It is the seat of the bishop of Tivoli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chioggia Cathedral</span> Church in Italy

Chioggia Cathedral is the main place of worship in Chioggia, Italy, in the south of the Venetian Lagoon. It dates from 1627. The interior contains many interesting works of art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avellino Cathedral</span>

Avellino Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Modestinus in Avellino, Campania, Italy. It is the seat of the bishops of Avellino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comacchio Cathedral</span> Church in Comacchio, Italy

Comacchio Cathedral, also the Basilica of San Cassiano, is a Baroque Roman Catholic cathedral and minor basilica dedicated to Saint Cassian of Imola in the city of Comacchio, in the province of Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Formerly the seat of the bishops of Comacchio, it has been since 1986 a co-cathedral in the Archdiocese of Ferrara-Comacchio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cingoli Cathedral</span>

Cingoli Cathedral is a Baroque Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the town of Cingoli, province of Macerata, region of Marche, Italy. It stands on the central piazza opposite the town hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fano Cathedral</span> Cathedral in Marche, Italy

Fano Cathedral is the principal church of Fano, Marche, Italy. Originally the seat of the bishop of Fano, since 1986 it has been the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Fano-Fossombrone-Cagli-Pergola. In January 1953 Pope Pius XII elevated it to the rank of a basilica minor.