Religious sites in Italy
Basilica of San Simpliciano
The Basilica of San Simpliciano is the second oldest church in the form of a Latin cross, first erected by Saint Ambrose. It is dedicated to Saint Simplician, bishop of Milan. The site of the present church was occupied in the 3rd century AD by a pagan cemetery. There St. Ambrose began the construction of the Basilica Virginum ('Basilica of the Virgins'), which was finished by his successor Simplicianus ...
Founded: 3th century AD |
Location:
Milan, Italy
Sacro Monte di Varese
The Sacro Monte di Varese (literally ‘Sacred Mount of Varese’) is one of the nine sacri monti in the Italian regions of Lombardy and Piedmont which were inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. It has an altitude of 807 metres above sea-level. The Sacro Monte of Varese is located a few kilometers from the city and nestled in the regional park Campo dei Fiori. It consists of the Holy Road an ...
Founded: 1604 |
Location:
Varese, Italy
La Magione
The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, commonly known La Magione, is a Norman church of Palermo. It was completed in 1191 and is the last church built in the capital of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily during the period of the Hauteville dynasty. Its foundation is linked to the Chancellor of the Kingdom, Matthew of Ajello. Initially attributed to the Cistercians, during the period of the Hohenstaufen dynasty the church became ...
Founded: 1191 |
Location:
Palermo, Italy
Enna Cathedral
The Duomo (Cathedral) of Enna, a notable example of religious architecture in Sicily, was built in the 14th century by queen Eleonora, Frederick III"s wife. It was renovated and remodeled after the fire of 1446. The great Baroque facade, in yellow tufa-stone, is surmounted by a massive campanile with finely shaped decorative elements. The portal on the right side is from the 16th century, while the other is from the ...
Founded: 1446 |
Location:
Enna, Italy
Vicenza Cathedral
Vicenza Cathedral construction was begun in 1482, to plans by Lorenzo of Bologna, and completed in the 1560s. The cupola was planned by Andrea Palladio and probably the north doorway also. Only the original façade survived the bombing of World War II; the rest of the present building has been reconstructed. The belltower has five bells in the chord of Eb, the oldest one was cast in the 17th century.
Founded: 1482-1560 |
Location:
Vicenza, Italy
Brindisi Cathedral
The Cathedral Church, also known as St. John"s the Baptist Church, was originally built between 1098 and 1132. It has been almost entirely rebuilt, following the original design, after the earthquake in 1743. Inside one can admire a polychrome mosaic from 1178 and a crown in wood from 1594. Here Ruggiero, son of Tancredi, was crowned King of Sicily in the year 1191, and in the year 1225 celebrations were held for th ...
Founded: 1743 |
Location:
Brindisi, Italy
Saint Andrea Church
Saint Andrea church overlooks over the older part of Torbole. It was first mentioned in a document dated 1175. In 1183 the Pope Lucius III assigned it, together with the surrounding olive grove, to the Cistercian Abbey of Saint Lorenzo in Trento. In 1497 some of the properties of the Church were given for the support of a priest who would look after of the Torbole Community. In 1741 the curate of Torbole has been founded ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Nago-torbole, Italy
Santa Maria del Carmine Church
Santa Maria del Carmine is considered amongst the best examples of Lombard Gothic architecture. It was begun in 1374 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, on a project attributed to Bernardo da Venezia. The construction followed a slow pace, and was restarted in 1432, being finished in 1461. Exterior The church has an imposing façade commanding the square with the same name; the slender forms betray a residual Rom ...
Founded: 1374-1461 |
Location:
Pavia, Italy
Troia Cathedral
Troia Cathedral is a masterpiece of Apulian Romanesque architecture and is particularly noted for the rose window and the bronze doors of the west front. Formerly the seat of the Bishops of Troia, it is now a co-cathedral in the diocese of Lucera-Troia. A Byzantine church formerly stood on the site, apparently constructed largely from the remains of Roman buildings. Work on a new cathedral began in the last quarter of th ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Troia, Italy
Tropea Cathedral
The Tropea cathedral was built by the Normans in the 12th century. A longitudinal development, with three naves in Norman style, the structure was built entirely in tuff and pale yellow lava stone. During the 17th century, the building was transformed into the baroque style and elongated 12 meters. Suffered many damages because of the many earthquakes and had numerous restorations. The interior houses the icon of the sain ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Tropea, Italy
San Lorenzo Church
Under the Aosta old parish church, archaeological diggings brought to light the early Christian cruciform basilica, indicated as Concilium Sanctorum, the Assembly of Saints because it was built on the tombs of some of the early martyrs who were buried in the Roman cemetery area which in itself was built on a protohistoric funeral settlement. Inside you can see parts of the liturgical structures, the relic platform wi ...
Founded: 5th century AD |
Location:
Aosta, Italy
San Michele Maggiore Church
The Basilica of San Michele Maggiore is one of the most striking example of Lombard-Romanesque style. It dates from the 11th and 12th centuries. A first church devoted to St. Michael Archangel was built on the location of the Lombard Palace chapel (to this period belongs the lower section of the bell tower), but it was destroyed by a fire in 1004. The current construction was begun in the late 11th century (crypt, choir ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Pavia, Italy
Molfetta Cathedral
Molfetta Cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Ignatius Loyola. Originally a Jesuit church, it became the seat of the bishops of Molfetta in the late 18th century. Since 1986 it has been the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi. The present cathedral was built by the Jesuits during the 17th century and dedicated to their founder, Saint Ignatius Loyo ...
Founded: 1610-1744 |
Location:
Molfetta, Italy
Santa Maria di Canepanova Church
Santa Maria di Canepanova is a Renaissance style Roman Catholic church located in central Pavia, region of Lombardy, Italy. Although in the past the design was popularly attributed to Bramante, the church was designed by Giovanni Antonio Amadeo. Church was built from 1500 to 1507 by Amadeo, who had previously built the tambour of the Milan Cathedral and had been invited by Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, brother of Duke Lud ...
Founded: 1500-1507 |
Location:
Pavia, Italy
Nardò Cathedral
Nardò Cathedral has been since 1986 the episcopal seat of the diocese of Nardò-Gallipoli. The present cathedral probably stands on the site of a Byzantine church. In 1080, a church was built here by the conquering Normans, which was elevated to the status of a cathedral in the early 15th century. The building has undergone a number of refurbishments. The present façade dates to 1710–1725. The interior contains both ...
Founded: 1080 |
Location:
Nardò, Italy
San Michele al Pozzo Bianco
San Michele al Pozzo Bianco is a church in the upper town of Bergamo, on a small piazza of the same name, near Porta Sant’Agostino. The church is now in a corner next to the frescoed house of the vicar, entered by a large rounded arch. Founded in the 8th century, it was rebuilt many times over the centuries. The present facade is from the early 20th century. Much of the interior was rebuilt in the 15th century, and cov ...
Founded: 8th century AD |
Location:
Bergamo, Italy
Sant'Orso Church
Sant"Orso had originally a single hall, delimited by a semicircular apse. It was entirely rebuilt during the 9th century, during the Carolingian age. Later, bishop Anselm of Aosta further renovated the church, introducing a basilica plan with three naves with wooden trusses. These were replaced by Gothic cross vaults in the 15th century. The church has a nave and two aisles divided by quadrangular pillars. T ...
Founded: 9th century |
Location:
Aosta, Italy
San Giovanni Church
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista has existed since 1339, but during the centuries it has gone through many changes and enlargements. It is characterized by a double façade with walls, of a severe light and shade intensity that culminates with an ample and splendid dame. The church was built in a panoramic position of particular beauty, that still allows the admiration of the valley and the coast up to Mount Cofano. Today ...
Founded: 1339 |
Location:
Erice, Italy
Cittadella Duomo
Cittadella Duomo is a church constructed between 1774 and 1826, with two main contributing architects: Domenico Cerato and Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi who created the Neoclassical façade. Carlo Barera completed the work in 1913. The nave altarpieces include works by Leandro Bassano, Lattanzio Querena, Sebastiano Santi, and Michele Fanoli. In the Sacristy, is a Supper at Emmaus by Jacopo da Ponte, once found in the town&qu ...
Founded: 1774-1826 |
Location:
Cittadella, Italy
Church tower of Lake Resia
The symbol of Val Venosta is quite fascinating and rather like a fable. A solitary church steeple emerges half out of the clear waters of the 6 km long Resia Lake, against the majestic background of the wild Vallelunga Valley. However, the story behind this postcard-like image is far less idyllic and the romantic 14th Century church bears testimony to the irresponsible decision of the State to locate a dam there after the ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Curon Venosta, Italy