Collegiata di San Michele Arcangelo

Solofra, Italy

The Collegiata di San Michele Arcangelo, translated as Collegiate Church of St Michael Archangel, is a richly decorated, Baroque style, Roman Catholic church in Solofra.

The collegiata was instituted by the University of Solofra in 1522. The church building was completed in 1614, and proclaimed basilica in 1685. Over the centuries, it has required a number of reconstructions due to earthquakes. The bell-tower was built in 1564. The idiosyncratic facade, with three portals, has sculptures representing St Michael, the evangelists, and Fathers of the church; it faces the central square in town and the Palazzo Orsini.

The interior is remarkable for a wooden roof with twenty one framed canvases painted by Giovanni Tommaso Guarino, and depicting events from the old testament, while the transept has a ceiling with scenes from the new testament painted by Giovanni Tommaso's brother, Francesco. Other works in the church include an Epiphany by Andrea Sabbatini and an Assumption of the Virgin, witnessed by the Saints by Giovanni de Mari. The main altarpiece is a Coronation of the Virgin (1594 by Giovanni Battista Lama. Below the main altarpiece is a gilded statue of St Michael Archangel.

The church has an elaborated decorated and gilded front to the organ, and carved pulpit by the studio of Giovanni Antonio Scavo.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1614
Category: Religious sites in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Antonio Sorrentino (9 months ago)
The baroque style church is divided into three naves, separated from each other by 7 pillars, which support round arches. The central nave is divided from the transept by a triumphal arch. It is rich in works of art from the late 16th century. Beautiful.
Alla Sivak (11 months ago)
One of the most beautiful churches in the region. Although I travel constantly and have seen enough churches.
Michael Bond (15 months ago)
A beautiful old decorated church of that period mixture of decorative wood and marble and exquisite paintings on roof. Well worth a visit
Carlo “Giorgio91” Carli (2 years ago)
From the outside it looks like a normal church...then you enter and the magic begins
fernando musto (2 years ago)
It is a beautiful church in the Baroque style, with important paintings from the Neapolitan school, mainly by Francesco Guarino, who was a native of the place. Worth a visit! The state of conservation of the complex is very good and it is certainly among the most beautiful churches in the province.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Walls of Constantinople

The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.

Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.