Description of the attraction
Santa Maria del Carmine is a church in Pavia, considered one of the most outstanding examples of Lombard Gothic architecture. Its construction began in 1374 by order of the Duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, and lasted almost a hundred years - it was completed only in 1461. The author of the project of the church is considered to be the architect Bernardo da Venezia.
Santa Maria del Carmine has an imposing façade that dominates the square of the same name. The simple forms of the building betray a residual Romanesque influence, but its decorations are undoubtedly of the Lombard Gothic style. The façade is divided into five vertical sections by means of six columns topped with spiers. The three central ones have portals, redesigned in 1854 by Giuseppe Marchesi. Above the portals there are four pointed vaulted windows and an elegant brickwork rose window. The bell tower, dated to the mid-15th century, also attracts attention - it has numerous friezes and triple vaulted windows with marble columns.
The interior of Santa Maria del Carmine is submerged in partial shade. It is made according to the plan of a Latin cross with a central nave and numerous side chapels with frescoes and paintings. The most outstanding are the second chapel with a 15th century fresco by Vincenzo Fopp, the fourth chapel with paintings by Sebastiano Ricci, the fifth chapel with the Assumption of the Virgin Mary by Bernardo Canet, the sixth chapel with the altarpiece by Guglielmo Caccia and the seventh chapel with the Gothic altarpiece donated The Roman Pius X, and the 15th century polyptych by Bernardo da Cotignola. Frescoes from the 15th century can also be seen in the transept, and baroque stucco moldings in the sacristy.
