San Domenico Church

Casale Monferrato, Italy

In 1471, after William VIII, Marquess of Montferrat had chosen Casale as the permanent location of the marquisate court, construction began of the church of San Domenico, to the north of Piazza Mazzini. Work on the building ceased for some time, as a result of political instability; in the early 16th century a fine, if slightly incongruous, Renaissance portal was imposed on the late Gothic façade.

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Founded: 1471
Category: Religious sites in Italy

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4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Riccardo Beretta (7 months ago)
Late Gothic church, quite bare and with uncertain times, still worth a visit if you are in the area.
Sergio Salvato (SweeTime) (2 years ago)
The church, which was founded by Guglielmo VIII de Monferrato in 1472 and finished in 1506 by Bonifacio V, was entrusted to the Dominican Fathers. The adjoining convent remained attached to the church until 1822, when the Napoleonic suppressions led to the division of the convent into lots which, moreover, was given to private individuals. Outside, the terracotta facade shows a valuable portal from 1505 surmounted by a rose window embellished with the signs of the zodiac, but the religious building has undergone considerable alterations which have distorted its structure and style, so much so that there are evident signs of Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance. The interior, which has three naves, shows a beautiful organ from 1781; beautiful stained glass windows from 1948, by Buffa from Casale, which replaced the previous ones (destroyed) from 1879; the sixteenth-century tomb of Benvenuto Sangiorgio, Count of Biandrate, knight and member of the Casale Senate; an imposing main altar with a hanging crucifix and precious confessionals of Baroque reminiscence. But it is above all some works that deserve attention such as the Altar of San Vincenzo Ferreri with a canvas from 1732, the work of the Casalese painter Mellana, the Altar of Santa Maria Maddalena from 1471 and, in particular, the Altar of the Madonna delle Grazie with a remarkable fifteenth-century painting of the Flemish school. The most interesting church in the city! Don't forget to visit the beautiful Renaissance cloister.
Elisabetta Silvestrin (2 years ago)
San Domenico, I had never visited before, there were rehearsals for a concert scheduled for the evening. Beautiful, with three naves in the Gothic style, in the style of the Cathedral of Sant'Evasio, excellent acoustics located in the historic center. To be seen.
Mauro Alfredo (2 years ago)
Yes I know very well that I am slightly biased ??? but unfortunately I have a small character defect ??? in addition to the question of faith which is really strictly personal, I find churches as BEAUTIFUL containers of absolutely BEAUTIFUL works of art, and this church is truly ultra BEAUTIFUL ??? as I see it these are the true AUTHENTIC masterpieces of our humanity, and since I am part of a voluntary association of art restorers, having received the craftsmanship excellence, I am absolutely certain that also future generations will be amazed at seeing authentic masterpieces ??????
Stefano Masnaghetti (4 years ago)
It is a late Gothic church, built between 1472 and 1513, the year of its consecration. It was commissioned by Guglielmo VIII Paleologo, Marquis of Monferrato. Despite its Piedmontese location, the buttresses that mark the facade are a typical element of Lombard / Lomellino Gothic, present among other things in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Mortara and in the Church of San Pietro Martire in Vigevano. It differs from these for the salient façade, rather than a hut, and for the splendid richly worked portal, built in 1505 by Lombard workers, which rises up to incorporate the central rose window, inscribed in a circle that presents the zodiacal signs in bas-relief . It is often closed, but on the other hand the beautiful Renaissance cloister is open every day: the entrance door is located to the right of the church, and is certainly worth a visit, also for the chance to admire the massive bell tower.
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