Ancona Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Ancona Cathedral is a church in Ancona
, central Italy
, dedicated to Judas Cyriacus
. It is an example of mixed Romanesque
-Byzantine and Gothic elements, and is located on the former site of the Greek city's acropolis
, the Guasco hill which commands Ancona and its gulf.
In 995–1015 a new church was built, which anyway kept the original walls. In 1017 the renovated basilica received the relics of St. Marcellinus of Ancona and St. Cyiriacus. Further enlargement works occurred between the end of the 12th and the early 13th centuries, with the addition of a transversal body, to obtain a Greek cross plan, and a entrance towards south-west, resulting in the church now facing the port and the new road entering the city. The transepts were at a higher level than the previous nave, and had apses. The church, previously named after St. Lawrence, was re-dedicated to St. Cyriacus martyr, the patron saint and alleged bishop of Ancona.
A first restoration was held in 1883. During World War I, on 24 May 1915, the basilica was damaged by a bombardment of the Austrian-Hungarian fleet. The damage was restored in 1920, but in World War II Anglo-American aerial bombings destroyed the right transept and the Crypt of Drops under it, along with the art treasures housed there. Once the transept was rebuilt, the church was officially reopened in 1951. Further damage was caused by an earthquake in 1972, followed by a new restoration and another official opening in 1977.
s. The bell tower is in an isolated position. It is mentioned from 1314 and was built above a pre-existing late-13th century tower.
The façade, divided into three section, is preceded by a wide staircase, above it is a 13th century Romanesque portal. This is formed by a round arch supported by four columns. The anterior ones stand on lions in Verona red marble, while the rear ones, added later by Luigi Vanvitelli
, are on a simple basement.
Under the arches are four relieves depicting symbols of the Evangelists. The portal is attributed to Giorgio da Como (c. 1228), and is in Romanesque-Gothic style, built in Conero white stone from Mount Conero and Veronese red marble. It is decorated by a series of columns holding ogival arches with reliefs of saints' busts, animal figures and vegetable motifs. Above the portal is a large oculum with a Romanesque frame and, at the sides, two single mullioned windows.
The dome is one of the most ancient in Italy. It has an ogival shape with a dodecagonal drum, standing on a square base with small decorative arches. It was built at the church's crossing in the 13th century, and is attributed to Margaritone d'Arezzo
(1270). Together with the church of Sant'Antonio at Padua
and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
, it was one of the few contemporary example of domes built in churches, instead than in separate baptisteries. The copper cover was added in the 16th century.
The side arms of the transept end with elevated apses, while the central arm of the presbytery
lost the original apse during the enlargement works of the 18th century. All the naves have hull-shaped, painted wood vaults dating from the 15th century. At the beginning of the side left nave is the monument to a Fermo
warrior from 1530.
The right transept is home to the Chapel of the Crucifix. Its transennas are formed by graffitoed tiles from a 1189 balaustrade. They depict saints, the Eternal Father and the Virgin on the left, and, on the right, figures of animals: two crane
s on a pomegranate, an eagle, two peacocks on a tree and two gryphons. In the Crypt of the Drops below, rebuilt after the devastation of World War II, are remains of ancient edifices. The presbytery's arms houses, in the left aisles, the sepulchre of Blessed Girolamo Ginelli, executed in 1509 by Giovanni Dalmata.
The left transept is home the Madonna Chapel, with a lavishly decorated niche designed by Luigi Vanvitelli in 1739, which is the site of a venerate 17th century image of the Madonna. Under the chapel is a crypt with the remains of St. Cyriacus (in a marble case), St. Liberius and Marcellinus (in Sicilian jasper) and the ashes of Saint Palatia. The urna were designed and executed between 1757 e il 1760 together with a decoration of bronze festoons, by Gioacchino Varlè.
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
, central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, dedicated to Judas Cyriacus
Judas Cyriacus
Judas Cyriacus is the patron saint of Ancona, Italy. His feast day is celebrated in the Catholic Church on May 4.-Judas Cyriacus, Bishop of Ancona:...
. It is an example of mixed Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
-Byzantine and Gothic elements, and is located on the former site of the Greek city's acropolis
Acropolis
Acropolis means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel . For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides...
, the Guasco hill which commands Ancona and its gulf.
History
Excavations carried on in 1948 proved that an Italic temple, perhaps dedicated to Aphrodite, existed on the site as early as the 3rd century BC. Above it, in the 6th century CE a Palaeo-Christian church was built. This had a nave and three aisles with the entrance facing south-east (where is the current Chapel of the Crucifix); some still existing remains of it include a mosaic pavement and perimeter walls.In 995–1015 a new church was built, which anyway kept the original walls. In 1017 the renovated basilica received the relics of St. Marcellinus of Ancona and St. Cyiriacus. Further enlargement works occurred between the end of the 12th and the early 13th centuries, with the addition of a transversal body, to obtain a Greek cross plan, and a entrance towards south-west, resulting in the church now facing the port and the new road entering the city. The transepts were at a higher level than the previous nave, and had apses. The church, previously named after St. Lawrence, was re-dedicated to St. Cyriacus martyr, the patron saint and alleged bishop of Ancona.
A first restoration was held in 1883. During World War I, on 24 May 1915, the basilica was damaged by a bombardment of the Austrian-Hungarian fleet. The damage was restored in 1920, but in World War II Anglo-American aerial bombings destroyed the right transept and the Crypt of Drops under it, along with the art treasures housed there. Once the transept was rebuilt, the church was officially reopened in 1951. Further damage was caused by an earthquake in 1972, followed by a new restoration and another official opening in 1977.
Exterior
The edifice is built in white stone from Mount Conero, with apses protruding from the transept's ends and an elevated body, with a dome at the crossing, in correspondence of the nave. All the external surface feature a decoration with Lombard bandLombard band
A Lombard band is a decorative blind arcade, usually exterior, often used during the Romanesque and Gothic periods of architecture.Lombard bands are believed to have been first used during the First Romanesque Period of the early 11th Century. At that time, they were the most common architectural...
s. The bell tower is in an isolated position. It is mentioned from 1314 and was built above a pre-existing late-13th century tower.
The façade, divided into three section, is preceded by a wide staircase, above it is a 13th century Romanesque portal. This is formed by a round arch supported by four columns. The anterior ones stand on lions in Verona red marble, while the rear ones, added later by Luigi Vanvitelli
Luigi Vanvitelli
Luigi Vanvitelli was an Italian engineer and architect. The most prominent 18th-century architect of Italy, he practiced a sober classicizing academic Late Baroque style that made an easy transition to Neoclassicism.-Biography:Vanvitelli was born at Naples, the son of a Dutch painter of land and...
, are on a simple basement.
Under the arches are four relieves depicting symbols of the Evangelists. The portal is attributed to Giorgio da Como (c. 1228), and is in Romanesque-Gothic style, built in Conero white stone from Mount Conero and Veronese red marble. It is decorated by a series of columns holding ogival arches with reliefs of saints' busts, animal figures and vegetable motifs. Above the portal is a large oculum with a Romanesque frame and, at the sides, two single mullioned windows.
The dome is one of the most ancient in Italy. It has an ogival shape with a dodecagonal drum, standing on a square base with small decorative arches. It was built at the church's crossing in the 13th century, and is attributed to Margaritone d'Arezzo
Margaritone d'Arezzo
Margarito or Margaritone d'Arezzo was an Italian painter from Arezzo.-Life:Little is known of Margaritone's life. The only documentary record of his existence dates from 1262, when he lived in Arezzo. However, a fair number of his works are known to survive; unusually for the time, most are signed...
(1270). Together with the church of Sant'Antonio at Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, it was one of the few contemporary example of domes built in churches, instead than in separate baptisteries. The copper cover was added in the 16th century.
Interior
The interior is on the Greek cross plan. All the arms are divided into a nave and two aisles, with re-used antique Roman columns with Byzantine capitals. At the crossing is the internal part of the dome, with pendentives with Byzantine-style figures of praying angels. The dome is supported by cruciform cluster piers.The side arms of the transept end with elevated apses, while the central arm of the presbytery
Presbytery (architecture)
The presbytery is the name for an area in a church building which is reserved for the clergy.In the oldest church it is separated by short walls, by small columns and pilasters in the Renaissance ones; it can also be raised, being reachable by a few steps, usually with railings....
lost the original apse during the enlargement works of the 18th century. All the naves have hull-shaped, painted wood vaults dating from the 15th century. At the beginning of the side left nave is the monument to a Fermo
Fermo
Fermo is a town and comune of the Marche, Italy, in the Province of Fermo.Fermo is located on a hill, the Sabulo with a fine view, on a branch from Porto San Giorgio on the Adriatic coast railway....
warrior from 1530.
The right transept is home to the Chapel of the Crucifix. Its transennas are formed by graffitoed tiles from a 1189 balaustrade. They depict saints, the Eternal Father and the Virgin on the left, and, on the right, figures of animals: two crane
Gruiformes
The Gruiformes are an order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like"....
s on a pomegranate, an eagle, two peacocks on a tree and two gryphons. In the Crypt of the Drops below, rebuilt after the devastation of World War II, are remains of ancient edifices. The presbytery's arms houses, in the left aisles, the sepulchre of Blessed Girolamo Ginelli, executed in 1509 by Giovanni Dalmata.
The left transept is home the Madonna Chapel, with a lavishly decorated niche designed by Luigi Vanvitelli in 1739, which is the site of a venerate 17th century image of the Madonna. Under the chapel is a crypt with the remains of St. Cyriacus (in a marble case), St. Liberius and Marcellinus (in Sicilian jasper) and the ashes of Saint Palatia. The urna were designed and executed between 1757 e il 1760 together with a decoration of bronze festoons, by Gioacchino Varlè.