Description of the attraction
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the main attractions of the Italian city of Bergamo. It was built in the 12th century in the traditional Lombard Romanesque style, but was rebuilt several times until the 15th century. And the interior of the church was made in the Baroque style in the 16-17th centuries.
The basilica is located in the so-called Upper Bergamo, on a hill, and with its northern facade it faces Piazza Duomo, and the southern one - towards Piazza Rosate. From the west, it is adjoined by the ancient Palazzo Veskovile - the Episcopal Palace, and from the north - the famous Colleone Chapel. Nearby is the baptistery of the basilica, which was once an integral part of it, but was converted into a separate building in the 19th century.
The laying of the foundations of the basilica took place in 1137, as evidenced by the inscription on the southern facade, known as Porta dei leoni bianchi - "Gate of the White Lions". A special place for the construction of the new church was chosen - earlier there was the Church of the Virgin Mary of the 8th century, and even earlier - an ancient pagan temple. However, the construction itself began only in 1157 and lasted almost thirty years. In 1185, the lighting of the main altar took place, and two years later, the construction of the transept was completed. The bell tower was built only in the second half of the 15th century. And in 1472, by order of the Condottiere Bartolomeo Colleone, the sacristy of the basilica was destroyed, and a magnificent chapel was erected in its place. In the early 16th century, the southwest portal was completed and became known as Porta della Fontana.
An interesting feature of Santa Maria Maggiore is the fact that the Palazzo Vescovile is attached to the church opposite the presbytery, where the main facade and the main entrance are usually located. Therefore, the entrance to the basilica is through the portals of the southern and northern branches of the transept - Porta dei leoni bianchi (Gate of the white lions) and Porta dei leoni Rossi (Gate of the pink lions). The portals received this name due to the fact that their columns are based on sculptural images of lions from white and pink marble.
Porta dei leoni rossi was created in 1353 by the architect Giovanni da Campione. This gate overlooks the Piazza Duomo and is decorated with geometric patterns and hunting scenes. Above them you can see statues of Saints Barbara, Vincent and Alexander, as well as a statue of the Virgin Mary and Child in a Gothic niche.
Another gate - Porta dei leoni bianchi - overlooks Piazza Rosate. They show the image of Christ surrounded by saints and John the Baptist. This gate, created in 1367, was also designed by Giovanni da Campione.
Inside, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is made in the form of a Latin cross with three naves, a large transept and a semicircular apse. The walls here and there are covered with Florentine and Flemish tapestries from the 16th century. At the western wall of the church, you can see the graves of the great Italian composers Gaetano Donizetti and Simon Mayr. Among the works of art that adorn the basilica, one can distinguish a crucifix of the 14th century, a bronze candlestick from 1597, wooden choirs by Bernardo Zenale, interesting multi-colored wooden inlays with biblical motives and several frescoes from the 14-17th centuries.
