Pavia Cathedral
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of Pavia is a church in Pavia
, northern Italy
, the largest in the city. The construction (presently still unfinished in some minor details) was begun in the 15th century on the site of two pre-existing Romanesque cathedrals (Santo Stefano and Santa Maria del Popolo). The cathedral houses the remains of St. Sirus, first bishop of Pavia. Next to the cathedral was the Civic Tower
(Torre Civica), known in 1330 and enlarged in 1583, which collapsed on March 17 1989.
and Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono
. The original project, with a nave and two aisles flanked by semicircular niches and a large central dome, was influenced by Bramante, some details of it later appearing in St. Peter's Basilica
in Rome. Also Leonardo da Vinci
is known to have contributed to the project.
In 1521 the altar area was completed by a pupil of Leonardo. In the 17th century the presbytery
area had been completed, but only in the following century the tambour was erected, while the dome itself and the façade had to wait for the 19th century. In the 1930 the construction continued with the two arms of the transept
, for which the original plan was followed, although using reinforced concrete
(in order to save the remains of the medieval Santa Maria del Popolo). The arms are still missing part of the internal marble decoration.
makes it one of the largest edifices with central plan in northern Italy
.
The central dome, with an octagonal plan, is 97 m tall, with a total weight of some 20,000 tons. It is the fourth in Italy in size, after St. Peter's, the Pantheon and Florence Cathedral.
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
, 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...
, the largest in the city. The construction (presently still unfinished in some minor details) was begun in the 15th century on the site of two pre-existing Romanesque cathedrals (Santo Stefano and Santa Maria del Popolo). The cathedral houses the remains of St. Sirus, first bishop of Pavia. Next to the cathedral was the Civic Tower
Civic Tower (Pavia)
The Civic Tower was a tower built in the Italian city of Pavia in the 11th century, next to Pavia Cathedral. Built to a rectangular footprint, it was 78 metres high....
(Torre Civica), known in 1330 and enlarged in 1583, which collapsed on March 17 1989.
History
The cathedral was begun in 1488 under architect Cristoforo Rocchi, soon replaced by Giovanni Antonio AmadeoGiovanni Antonio Amadeo
thumb|260px|The Colleoni Chapel in Bergamo.Giovanni Antonio Amadeo was an Italian early Renaissance sculptor, architect, and engineer....
and Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono
Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono
Gian Giacomo Quadri, known as Dolcebuono was an Italian architect and sculptor.Born probably in Lugano, he was a relative of Giacomo Antonio Dolcebuono, who had provided one of the first projects for the façade of the Certosa di Pavia. Quadri apprenticed in the Milanese workshop of Giovanni and...
. The original project, with a nave and two aisles flanked by semicircular niches and a large central dome, was influenced by Bramante, some details of it later appearing in St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
in Rome. Also Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
is known to have contributed to the project.
In 1521 the altar area was completed by a pupil of Leonardo. In the 17th century 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....
area had been completed, but only in the following century the tambour was erected, while the dome itself and the façade had to wait for the 19th century. In the 1930 the construction continued with the two arms of the transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
, for which the original plan was followed, although using reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
(in order to save the remains of the medieval Santa Maria del Popolo). The arms are still missing part of the internal marble decoration.
Overview
The church is on the Greek Cross plan: it therefore has the same length and width at the transept (c. 84 m). Such sizemakes it one of the largest edifices with central plan in 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...
.
The central dome, with an octagonal plan, is 97 m tall, with a total weight of some 20,000 tons. It is the fourth in Italy in size, after St. Peter's, the Pantheon and Florence Cathedral.