Sant'Agata Church, Brescia, Italy

A church at the site of Sant'Agata was present by the 8th century, when the neighborhood was located outside the city walls, but after the 1184 fire destroyed the ancient church, it was reconstructed in the 15th-century in Gothic style. Destruction by fire of this church was somewhat paradoxical, since Saint Agatha was the saint invoked for protection against fires. Further modifications were completed along the centuries, leading to a pastiche of styles. The incomplete 14th-century facade has a Renaissance architecture facade, decorated with Baroque statuary.

Inside, the presbytery dates from the 15th century, the ceiling from the 16th century, the altars and fresco decoration from the 1680s, and the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento is from the 18th century. The main altarpiece depicting Sant'Agata with Saints Peter, Paul, Lucia, Apollonia standing before the cross (1522) is a masterwork by Francesco Prata from Caravaggio.

References:

Wikipedia

Religious sites in Italy

User Reviews

Gianpietro 67 (2 years ago)
Bellissima anche la serata con la soldanella e la voce di Filippo Garlanda

Alessandro Mabellini (2 years ago)
Una delle chiese più belle di Brescia, con una struttura architettonica particolare e ricca di storia! Meravigliosa la pala d'altare di S. Agata... Da visitare!!

Marco Barbieri (2 years ago)
Piccola ma molto bella. Da visitare.

Veronica Bonura (2 years ago)
La chiesa di Sant'Agata si trova nell'omonimo corsetto, a Brescia. L'ultima modifica viene apportata nel 1700 alla facciata, con l'aggiunta di una cornice sopra il portale da Antonio callegari. La facciata é in stile romanico con piccole aggiunte di decorazioni barocche. L' interno é ad unica navata, a pianta longitudinale, completamente affrescata. Le particolarità della chiesa, che la rendono fenomale sono: - che é totalmente affrescata; - la particolarità e la minuziosità dei particolari presenti all'interno. Ne vale veramente la pena visitarla. Ingresso: gratuito. Orari: - giorni feriali: 7:30-11:00 17:00-18:45; - giorni festivi: 9:00-11:30 17:00-19:30.

Silvi B (2 years ago)
Sant’ Agata ovvero : l’interno che non ti aspetti. Entrando dal bellissimo portale del 400 (con sopra statue barocche aggiunte) toglietevi gli occhiali da sole perchè vi ritroverete nel suo buio misterioso..(mai vista una chiesa così buia)da cui solo man mano emergeranno la volta e le pareti interamente affrescate(nel 600) e soprattutto apparirà il magnifico affresco di metà 400 raffigurante il Crocifisso fra un volo di angeli piangenti che domina dall’alto il presbiterio sopraelevato!

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Erik Christensen, Porkeri

Historic Site of the week

Kirkjubøargarður

Kirkjubøargarður ('Yard of Kirkjubøur', also known as King"s Farm) is one of the oldest still inhabited wooden houses of the world. The farm itself has always been the largest in the Faroe Islands. The old farmhouse dates back to the 11th century. It was the episcopal residence and seminary of the Diocese of the Faroe Islands, from about 1100. Sverre I of Norway (1151–1202), grew up here and went to the priest school. The legend says, that the wood for the block houses came as driftwood from Norway and was accurately bundled and numbered, just for being set up. Note, that there is no forest in the Faroes and wood is a very valuable material. Many such wood legends are thus to be found in Faroese history.

The oldest part is a so-called roykstova (reek parlour, or smoke room). Perhaps it was moved one day, because it does not fit to its foundation. Another ancient room is the loftstovan (loft room). It is supposed that Bishop Erlendur wrote the 'Sheep Letter' here in 1298. This is the earliest document of the Faroes we know today. It is the statute concerning sheep breeding on the Faroes. Today the room is the farm"s library. The stórastovan (large room) is from a much later date, being built in 1772.

Though the farmhouse is a museum, the 17th generation of the Patursson Family, which has occupied it since 1550, is still living here. Shortly after the Reformation in the Faroe Islands in 1538, all the real estate of the Catholic Church was seized by the King of Denmark. This was about half of the land in the Faroes, and since then called King"s Land (kongsjørð). The largest piece of King"s Land was the farm in Kirkjubøur due to the above-mentioned Episcopal residence. This land is today owned by the Faroese government, and the Paturssons are tenants from generation to generation. It is always the oldest son, who becomes King"s Farmer, and in contrast to the privately owned land, the King"s Land is never divided between the sons.

The farm holds sheep, cattle and some horses. It is possible to get a coffee here and buy fresh mutton and beef directly from the farmer. In the winter season there is also hare hunting for the locals. Groups can rent the roykstovan for festivities and will be served original Faroese cuisine.

Other famous buildings directly by the farmhouse are the Magnus Cathedral and the Saint Olav"s Church, which also date back to the mediaeval period. All three together represent the Faroe Island"s most interesting historical site.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Sant'Agata Church

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

History of Guernsey & Jersey

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania

Cultural Landscape of Sintra, Portugal

Historic Site of the week

Kirkjubøargarður

Looks like you are a history fan!