Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta (Collegiate Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption), San Gimignano (must see)
The Collegiate Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption (Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta) is also called the Cathedral (Il Duomo). It is located in the Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), on the site of an earlier church, built in the 10th century. The present edifice was consecrated in 1148 and made collegiate in 1471. The Cathedral has the relics of the town's patron Saint, Geminianus, Bishop of Modena.
The great poet and "Father" of Italian literature, Dante Alighieri, may have visited the Cathedral as Ambassador of the Guelph League of Tuscany to San Gimignano. It is certain that the Christian preacher and reformer Girolamo Savonarola preached there in 1497.
The church facade faces east, its chancel faces west. The architectural style is definitely Romanesque, but two chapels are Renaissance. The unadorned facade is reached from the square by a wide flight of steps. There are doors with lintels and recessed arches to the side aisles, but nothing in the center.
There is a large central ocular window and two smaller windows over the aisle portals. The architect of credit is Matteo di Brunisend. The facade was raised in 1340. The square bell tower is on the north side. On the south side is the loggia of the baptistery. It has an arcaded cloister with columns and a groin vault.
Inside, the church is laid out in a Latin cross plan with the center nave flanked by the two aisles. The aisles are set off by arcades of Romanesque arches on Corinthian columns. The rectangular chancel has a single arched window. The roofs are four-part Gothic style vaults. The clerestory is dimly lighted by small windows.
The voussoirs of the arcades of the Romanesque interior are alternately striped in black and white marble. The vaults are painted with gold stars in skies of lapis lazuli. The geometric vault ribbing is picked out in red, white and gold.
The church is famous for its well-preserved frescoes. The paintings are mostly from the 14th century. They show scenes from the Old and New Testaments, the Last Judgement, and the Life of Christ.
The great poet and "Father" of Italian literature, Dante Alighieri, may have visited the Cathedral as Ambassador of the Guelph League of Tuscany to San Gimignano. It is certain that the Christian preacher and reformer Girolamo Savonarola preached there in 1497.
The church facade faces east, its chancel faces west. The architectural style is definitely Romanesque, but two chapels are Renaissance. The unadorned facade is reached from the square by a wide flight of steps. There are doors with lintels and recessed arches to the side aisles, but nothing in the center.
There is a large central ocular window and two smaller windows over the aisle portals. The architect of credit is Matteo di Brunisend. The facade was raised in 1340. The square bell tower is on the north side. On the south side is the loggia of the baptistery. It has an arcaded cloister with columns and a groin vault.
Inside, the church is laid out in a Latin cross plan with the center nave flanked by the two aisles. The aisles are set off by arcades of Romanesque arches on Corinthian columns. The rectangular chancel has a single arched window. The roofs are four-part Gothic style vaults. The clerestory is dimly lighted by small windows.
The voussoirs of the arcades of the Romanesque interior are alternately striped in black and white marble. The vaults are painted with gold stars in skies of lapis lazuli. The geometric vault ribbing is picked out in red, white and gold.
The church is famous for its well-preserved frescoes. The paintings are mostly from the 14th century. They show scenes from the Old and New Testaments, the Last Judgement, and the Life of Christ.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Gimignano. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta (Collegiate Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption) on Map
Sight Name: Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta (Collegiate Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption)
Sight Location: San Gimignano, Italy (See walking tours in San Gimignano)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: San Gimignano, Italy (See walking tours in San Gimignano)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in San Gimignano, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in San Gimignano
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Gimignano is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
San Gimignano Towers Walk
Known as the 鈥淢anhattan of the Middle Ages鈥�, San Gimignano is renowned for its collection of medieval skyscrapers whose verticality and density produce a rather unique and impressive sight.
Clustered together, these slender towers served as both family homes and status symbols for the noble families who built them. Apart from showcasing the prosperity and influence of their owners, they... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.2 Km or 0.1 Miles
Clustered together, these slender towers served as both family homes and status symbols for the noble families who built them. Apart from showcasing the prosperity and influence of their owners, they... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.2 Km or 0.1 Miles
San Gimignano Introduction Walking Tour
Visitors are universally spellbound when they discover San Gimignano, one of the many jewels in the crown of Italy鈥檚 Tuscany. The reason for this lies in the well-preserved feudal atmosphere and appearance from the Middle Ages with its architectural integrity and original intact urban layout.
The history of the town dates back to the Etruscan period. However, it was during the Middle Ages... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
The history of the town dates back to the Etruscan period. However, it was during the Middle Ages... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles