Sant'Orso
Encyclopedia
Sant'Orso, or Saint-Ours, is a collegiate church
in Aosta
, northern Italy
dedicated to Saint Ursus of Aosta. The original church had a single hall, delimited by a semicircular apse. It was entirely rubuilt 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 truss
es. The latter were replaced by Gothic cross vaults in the 15th century.
It contains many missal
s and reliquaries
, including the relics of Ursus, which rest in the crypt
. The vault was rebuilt in the 15th century.
The cloister
has historiated capitals depicting the life of Ursus. The bell tower, dating to 989, has kept some the lower 15 meters of the original medieval structure. The present structure, in Romanesque style, dates to the 12th century, and has a total height of 44 meters.
It also holds the relics of Saint Gratus of Aosta.
Fragments of a Romanesque
series of paintings are preserved in good condition in the space between the current vault and the original ceiling. These portray scenes from the New Testament
as well as a martyrdom. Stylistically they resemble the bright colours and strongly marked outlines of some of the frescoes at the Galliano Basilica near Cantù
.
Collegiate church
In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons; a non-monastic, or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a dean or provost...
in Aosta
Aosta
Aosta is the principal city of the bilingual Aosta Valley in the Italian Alps, north-northwest of Turin. It is situated near the Italian entrance of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, at the confluence of the Buthier and the Dora Baltea, and at the junction of the Great and Little St. Bernard routes...
, northern 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 Saint Ursus of Aosta. The original church had a single hall, delimited by a semicircular apse. It was entirely rubuilt during the 9th century, during the Carolingian
Carolingian
The Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century AD. The name "Carolingian", Medieval Latin karolingi, an altered form of an unattested Old High German *karling, kerling The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the...
age. Later, bishop Anselm of Aosta further renovated the church, introducing a basilica plan with three naves with wooden truss
Truss
In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in...
es. The latter were replaced by Gothic cross vaults in the 15th century.
It contains many missal
Missal
A missal is a liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year.-History:Before the compilation of such books, several books were used when celebrating Mass...
s and reliquaries
Reliquary
A reliquary is a container for relics. These may be the physical remains of saints, such as bones, pieces of clothing, or some object associated with saints or other religious figures...
, including the relics of Ursus, which rest in the crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
. The vault was rebuilt in the 15th century.
The cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
has historiated capitals depicting the life of Ursus. The bell tower, dating to 989, has kept some the lower 15 meters of the original medieval structure. The present structure, in Romanesque style, dates to the 12th century, and has a total height of 44 meters.
It also holds the relics of Saint Gratus of Aosta.
Fragments of a Romanesque
Romanesque art
Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century, or later, depending on region. The preceding period is increasingly known as the Pre-Romanesque...
series of paintings are preserved in good condition in the space between the current vault and the original ceiling. These portray scenes from the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
as well as a martyrdom. Stylistically they resemble the bright colours and strongly marked outlines of some of the frescoes at the Galliano Basilica near Cantù
Cantù
Cantù is a city and comune in the Province of Como, located at the center of the Brianza zone in Lombardy. It is the second largest city in Brianza.-History:...
.