Cesena Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Cesena Cathedral was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and was founded by the papal bull of Pope Urban VI
in 1378. The works started in 1385 paid for by the generosity of Andrea Malatesta
, the lord of the city. It was completed around the year 1405. The construction in attributed to the Undervaldo (probably Swiss
) and in Roman
-gothic
style.
The Campanile (bell tower) was built between 1443 and 1457 on design by the Maso di Pietro and funded by Bishop
Antonio Malatesta da Fossombrone (head of the Diocese of Cesena
from 1435 to 1475).
The same Bishop
Malatesta was responsible for the building of the Bishop's Palace adjoining the Cathedral but was completed by his successor Giovanni Venturelli (1475-1486).
After the radical rebuilding of the 1960s
the only surviving original part in what remains of the door on the easterner side. Also dating from the Renaissance
period is the Oratorio di San Tobia (Oratory of Saint Tobias) standing next to the Cathedral. However, the old hospital of the same name which gave assistance to pilgrims no longer exists.
The façade of the cathedral was completed only at the end of the 15th century with works attributed to the Venetian
architect Mauro Coducci (1440-1504).
The mortal remains of Saint Mauro are kept inside together with one the greatest sculptures of Cesena
produced between 1494 and 1505 by the Lombard
sculptor Giovanni Battista Bregno da Osteno, the Altar of Saint John.
Inside the cathedral a small but important painting on copper plate by the mannerist
Livio Agresti
depicting Saint John has been returned. In the Cappella della Madonna del Popolo (Chapel of the Madonna del Popolo) there are beautiful frescoes by Corrado Giaquinto
dating from 1750.
Pope Urban VI
Pope Urban VI , born Bartolomeo Prignano, was Pope from 1378 to 1389.-Biography:Born in Itri, he was a devout monk and learned casuist, trained at Avignon. On March 21, 1364, he was consecrated Archbishop of Acerenza in the Kingdom of Naples...
in 1378. The works started in 1385 paid for by the generosity of Andrea Malatesta
Andrea Malatesta
Andrea Malatesta was an Italian condottiero, a member of the Malatesta family of Romagna. He is also known as Malatesta da Cesena, a city he had inherited in 1385 from his father, Galeotto, together with Cervia and Bertinoro...
, the lord of the city. It was completed around the year 1405. The construction in attributed to the Undervaldo (probably Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
) and in Roman
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,...
-gothic
Gothic art
Gothic art was a Medieval art movement that developed in France out of Romanesque art in the mid-12th century, led by the concurrent development of Gothic architecture. It spread to all of Western Europe, but took over art more completely north of the Alps, never quite effacing more classical...
style.
The Campanile (bell tower) was built between 1443 and 1457 on design by the Maso di Pietro and funded by Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Antonio Malatesta da Fossombrone (head of the Diocese of Cesena
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cesena-Sarsina
The Italian Catholic diocese of Cesena-Sarsina, in Emilia Romagna is created on September 30, 1986, after the diocese of Sarsina was united with the historic diocese of Cesenaas a suffragan of the archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia....
from 1435 to 1475).
The same Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Malatesta was responsible for the building of the Bishop's Palace adjoining the Cathedral but was completed by his successor Giovanni Venturelli (1475-1486).
After the radical rebuilding of the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
the only surviving original part in what remains of the door on the easterner side. Also dating from the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
period is the Oratorio di San Tobia (Oratory of Saint Tobias) standing next to the Cathedral. However, the old hospital of the same name which gave assistance to pilgrims no longer exists.
The façade of the cathedral was completed only at the end of the 15th century with works attributed to the Venetian
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...
architect Mauro Coducci (1440-1504).
The mortal remains of Saint Mauro are kept inside together with one the greatest sculptures of Cesena
Cesena
Cesena is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, south of Ravenna and west of Rimini, on the Savio River, co-chief of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It is at the foot of the Apennines, and about 15 km from the Adriatic Sea.-History:Cesena was originally an Umbrian...
produced between 1494 and 1505 by the Lombard
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
sculptor Giovanni Battista Bregno da Osteno, the Altar of Saint John.
Inside the cathedral a small but important painting on copper plate by the mannerist
Mannerism
Mannerism is a period of European art that emerged from the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520. It lasted until about 1580 in Italy, when a more Baroque style began to replace it, but Northern Mannerism continued into the early 17th century throughout much of Europe...
Livio Agresti
Livio Agresti
Livio Agresti , also called Ritius or Ricciutello, was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance or Mannerist period, active both in his native city of Forlì and in Rome, where he died. He was one of the members of the "Forlì painting school"...
depicting Saint John has been returned. In the Cappella della Madonna del Popolo (Chapel of the Madonna del Popolo) there are beautiful frescoes by Corrado Giaquinto
Corrado Giaquinto
Corrado Giaquinto was an Italian Rococo painter.-Early training and move to Rome:He was born in Molfetta. As a boy he apprenticed with a modest local painter Saverio Porta, , escaping the religious career his parents had intended for him...
dating from 1750.