Duomo di San Lorenzo

The Duomo di San Lorenzo is the cathedral of Genoa, devoted by the pope Gélase II in 1118, and is dedicated to the archdeacon of the Church of Rome, martyrized in 258 on the Via Tiburtina.

An antique tradition, without confirmation in any written document, reports that Laurent and Sixte II would have stopped in Genoa at the time of a voyage in Spain.

Description

Outside

Frontage

One is struck immediately by the alternation of the gray and the white the frontage, process rather common in Ligurie. The massive aspect of the unit would bring it closer to the Romance style, while the three gates decorated with multiple statues bring it closer to the Gothic cathedrals to France. Alternations of columns of colors and different forms are also better effect. The majestic staircase is surrounded by two walls carrying of the lions.

In the gate of the center, Christ blessing, carrying a book equipped with an inscription, is surrounded by a almost circular Mandorle; it seems to wake up tomb, whose one sees the layer behind him. The remainder of this level is decorated of the four animals of the Apocalypse in which the Christian tradition recognizes usually the four Évangéliste S. In the lower level, a horizontal plank presents the martyrdom of SAINT LAURENT, on a grill surrounded by two torturers who poke the flames with bellows. On the left, the emperor, bearded is recognized and who of a pressing finger orders the execution.

On the right gate the Tree of Jessé present of the scenes describing the ancestors of each stage of the history of the elected people, to Marie, surmounted of the Father who holds the Son in cross of his two arms, whereas from his mouth emerges the dove of the Holy Spirit, joining the head of the Son.

On the left gate of the scenes of the life of Christ: Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity. . , and Escape in Egypt .

At the right end of the frontage, in the angle, a sundial is held by a character, (angel or saint-Sebastien?).

Other entries

On the left side, the side entry is relatively discrete, because it is located just in front of the baptistry, which advances on the side of the principal body of the building. This entry is decorated of a loggia furnished with four columns.
On the right-sided, just after the bell-tower, the entry decorated with a similar loggia is decorated on its right-sided with a small housing always in alternation with tons gray and white.

Interior

The unit is divided into three naves, rather luminous, but whose vaults are stripped of any ornament before the transept.

Nave of right-hand side

While entering, one notices the sarcophagus of Pietro Giovanni Chiavica (1559).
Follows a anonymous crucifixion , gone back to 1443.
Inside the side gate, a Madonna Eleusa between two saints and two angels gone back to approximately 1312, in a style evoking the Byzantine icons.
a shell not exploded fired by the English sailors during the Second world war is placed on a post, signs protection of the Sky.
Just with the top of the statue of the cardinal Pietro Boetto (1938-1945) a fresco of the Last cene of Lazzaro Tavarone realized in 1626.
the pulpit, carried out in 1526 is of P. Scala da Carona.
Triptych of the Assumption realized in 1905 by Gaetano Previati.
At the level of the transept, a modern statue of Saint Joseph guiding the child Jesus overhangs fall it from the cardinal Giuseppe Siri.
While entering the closed part of this nave, the vault Senarega , one can still mention:

Crucifixion with the Virgin, holy Jean and holy Sebastien of Federico Barocci in the traditional style of Guido Reni,
With the top of the furnace bridge, the Madonna odigitria (perhaps listener , because the Jesus child seems to blow something with the ear to him), of the 15th century, of unknown author,
the vault of the vault is decorated of a whole of frescos and stuccos carried out by Giovanni Andrea Carlone with the honor of Notre Dame of perpetual Secours .

Central nave

The separation of this nave of with the two side aisles is ensured by one ragnée of columns, surmounted of a second level of posts. The unit is very air. On the other hand the vault of the nave is without any decoration, which strongly contrasts with the superabundance of the colors of the frescos of the sanctuary.

Sanctuary

In the middle of the sanctuary, throne the statue of the Madonna of the city by Domenico Fiasella and Gio Battista Bianco, gone back to 1637. It has this of private individual whom two angels hold a crown with the top of the head of the Madonna by giving the impression to be supported on nothing.
the vault of the sanctuary is decorated with a unit with stuccos and medallions surrounding two large frescos of Lazzaro Tavarone presenting one martyrdom of SAINT LAURENT , the other Saint Laurent carrying the richnesses of the Church, i.e. the poor, with the emperor .

Chorus

The chorus (carried out between 1527 and 1565) is furnished with triple level of stalls, whose only higher level is complete on the whole of the apse. The levels intermediary and inferior are arranged in order to allow the circulation of the canons. In the higher level of the stalls, one distinguishes the stalls themselves, whose seats are carried out in marquetry of dark colors, and the panels, carried out clearer colors, with tendency mahogany tree. On one of them, one can admire the scene of the martyrdom of SAINT LAURENT, challenging the emperor since his grill .

Nave of left

Baptistry

an L-shaped vault, downwards, around the Baptistry known as of holy Jean the old man , of an unknown author of the 15th century.
the vault of the baptistry is decorated with various fabrics and frescos: with the top of the furnace bridge, a fabric of Luca Cambiaso, introducing to Holy Benoit, holy Jean-Baptiste and holy Luc , - originality of this fabric being to place holy Benoit in the center of the two other saints. On the wall of right-hand side by looking at the furnace bridge, the wedding at Cana of Domenico Fiasella.
In front of the entry of the vault of the baptistry, a recess was arranged in vault, was decorated of a painting of the Annonciation of Giovanni Battista Paggi. On the side, lying.

Vault saint Jean Baptist

Ornament of the ballot box of marble ashes
Baldachin
Statues on the sides

Transept

Large organ whose console is with the opposite angle of the right transept. The dresser is a realization of Gaspare Forlani in 1554 - 1555. the shutters of decoration carry works of Giulio Benso, which it composed between 1634 and 1655

Volets internal decoration: the tableux ones introduce protective saints of the city, surrounded by angels musicians.
Shutters external decoration: the table in two parts presents David dancing in front of the arch .

Furnace bridge of saint Pierre and holy Paul
Access to the sacristy

Lercari vault

Vault of the Blessed Sacrament: the vault is made up of two levels in a unit, separated from the remainder of the cathedral by a first level of staircases, then by a communion table out of marble in double arc of circle which distinguishes the sanctuary from the remainder; in the sanctuary, like usually, the furnace bridge is surmounted by a gate vault monumental, disproportionate, in the style of the Counter-Reformation. The vault is named according to the family Lercari, family of patricians génois whose celebrity goes back at least to the 16th century.

a table of Luca Cambiaso representative Holy Joachim , very thoughtful, undoubtedly in front of the marvellous destiny of his/her child, decorates the left wall on the level of the furnace bridge.

the vault of this part was decorated by Giovanni Battista Castello the Bergamask, presenting the Assomption of the Virgin , in the fresco covering the circular part of the apse, and the Couronnement of the Virgin in the medallion of the ceiling of the central part, while the two sides propose a gallery of saints who attend the triumph. The unit is decorated gilded stuccos which donnet of the relief to the frescos.

External bonds

virtual visit of the museum of the sacristy

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