Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of St. Mary Major), Bergamo (must see)
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is a significant church with a rich history. According to popular tradition, which is partially supported by documents, the church was constructed in response to a vow made by the citizens of Bergamo in 1133. They pledged to the Virgin Mary to protect the city from the devastating plague that was ravaging northern Italy during that time.
The southern entrance, known as the entrance of the "White Lions," bears an inscription stating that the church was founded in 1137. It was built on the site of an earlier 8th-century church dedicated to Saint Mary, which itself stood atop a Roman temple dedicated to the Clemence.
The church faces the square known as Piazza Duomo, with its main facade originally connected to the Bishops' Palace, rendering it without an entrance. The external appearance of the Basilica has largely retained its Lombard Romanesque origins. Visitors can access the church through two entrances: one designed by Giovanni da Campione in 1353 and the other by Isabello's Porta della Fontana.
The main apse of the Basilica is adorned with a loggia topped by two friezes featuring geometric and vegetal patterns. It also possesses blind arcades with semi-columns, whose capitals predominantly depict vegetal themes. However, one capital stands out, as it is adorned with Angels blowing trumpets associated with the Last Judgment. The transept's apses mirror the structure of the main apse.
Noteworthy within the Basilica is Giovanni da Campione's porch, located in the left transept. This porch is supported by columns that emerge from lions sculpted in Veronese marble. The arch of the porch showcases a frieze depicting hunting scenes, while the vault is decorated with polychrome lozenges. A loggia houses statues of Saint Barbara, Saint Vincent, and Saint Alexander. At its peak, there is a Gothic niche crafted by Hans von Fernach in 1403, featuring the Madonna with Child, flanked by Saint Esther and Saint Grata, created in 1398. Another porch, created by Giovanni da Campione, can be found in the right transept. It possesses a similar, though simpler, structure and is supported by columns adorned with lions sculpted in white marble. This porch showcases reliefs depicting Christ Crowned by Saints and the Birth of the Baptist.
Additionally, Isabello's Renaissance porch, characterized by a fresco attributed to Andrea Previtali, graces the lunette. The fresco portrays the Nativity of Mary, also known as Mary's Birth.
The southern entrance, known as the entrance of the "White Lions," bears an inscription stating that the church was founded in 1137. It was built on the site of an earlier 8th-century church dedicated to Saint Mary, which itself stood atop a Roman temple dedicated to the Clemence.
The church faces the square known as Piazza Duomo, with its main facade originally connected to the Bishops' Palace, rendering it without an entrance. The external appearance of the Basilica has largely retained its Lombard Romanesque origins. Visitors can access the church through two entrances: one designed by Giovanni da Campione in 1353 and the other by Isabello's Porta della Fontana.
The main apse of the Basilica is adorned with a loggia topped by two friezes featuring geometric and vegetal patterns. It also possesses blind arcades with semi-columns, whose capitals predominantly depict vegetal themes. However, one capital stands out, as it is adorned with Angels blowing trumpets associated with the Last Judgment. The transept's apses mirror the structure of the main apse.
Noteworthy within the Basilica is Giovanni da Campione's porch, located in the left transept. This porch is supported by columns that emerge from lions sculpted in Veronese marble. The arch of the porch showcases a frieze depicting hunting scenes, while the vault is decorated with polychrome lozenges. A loggia houses statues of Saint Barbara, Saint Vincent, and Saint Alexander. At its peak, there is a Gothic niche crafted by Hans von Fernach in 1403, featuring the Madonna with Child, flanked by Saint Esther and Saint Grata, created in 1398. Another porch, created by Giovanni da Campione, can be found in the right transept. It possesses a similar, though simpler, structure and is supported by columns adorned with lions sculpted in white marble. This porch showcases reliefs depicting Christ Crowned by Saints and the Birth of the Baptist.
Additionally, Isabello's Renaissance porch, characterized by a fresco attributed to Andrea Previtali, graces the lunette. The fresco portrays the Nativity of Mary, also known as Mary's Birth.
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Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of St. Mary Major) on Map
Sight Name: Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of St. Mary Major)
Sight Location: Bergamo, Italy (See walking tours in Bergamo)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Bergamo, Italy (See walking tours in Bergamo)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Bergamo, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Bergamo
Creating your own self-guided walk in Bergamo 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.
Bergamo Introduction Walking Tour
The first thing you notice about Bergamo is topography. Situated at the foothills of the Italian Alps, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, Bergamo has been divided into two parts, the Upper Town and the Lower Town (Citt脿 Alta and Citt脿 Bassa), since the 15th century. The flat Lower Town rises steeply to the Upper Town, perched on a picturesque hill's crest.
Historically, Lower... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Historically, Lower... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles