Travel Italy - Visiting Pistoia Cathedral - The Cathedral of Saint Zeno
Take a tour of Pistoia Cathedral in Italy -- part of the World's Greatest Attractions travel video series by GeoBeats.
Also known as the Cathedral of Saint Zeno, Pistoia Cathedral is the city's grandest church.
It is situated in the midpoint of the city, the main plaza.
Its large and unique bell tower ensures that it can be seen from every vantage point.
The Pistoia Cathedral was built sometime around the tenth century, and was designed in Romanesque style architecture.
The church's structure, made of many levels of arches, gives it a sublimely graceful facade.
The inner and outer walls of the cathedral, as well as the ceilings, are adorned with numerous Christian sculptures and paintings.
Places to see in ( Pistoia - Italy ) Cathedral of Saint Zeno
Places to see in ( Pistoia - Italy ) Cathedral of Saint Zeno
Pistoia Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Pistoia or Cattedrale di San Zeno) is the main religious building of Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy, located in the Piazza del Duomo in the centre of the city. It is the seat of the Bishop of Pistoia and is dedicated to Saint Zeno of Verona. Most probably built in the 10th century, it has a façade in Romanesque style, inspired by other churches in Pistoia (San Bartolomeo and San Jacopo). The interior has a nave and two side-aisles, with a presbytery and crypt. A restoration in 1952-1999 returned the church to its original lines.
It has been speculated that a smaller cathedral may have existed in Pistoia as early as the 5th century AD, as it had already a bishop at that time. The location of such a building is however unknown: possible sites are those of the current cathedral, of the Pieve di Sant'Andrea or of San Pier Maggiore. The first mention of a cathedral dates to 923. In 998 a diploma of Emperor Otto III refers to a Palaeo-Christian building located between the cathedral square (Piazza del Duomo) and the city's watch tower. In 1108 the cathedral was damaged by a fire, and was probably rebuilt over the next few decades, as in 1145 an altar was dedicated in it to Saint James the Great by Bishop Saint Atto. In 1202 another fire damaged the cathedral again. In 1274-1275 the aisles were covered with vaults, and in 1287 a new altar was begun. In 1298 there was further damage caused by an earthquake. In 1336 a statue of Saint Zeno was placed in the west front, sculpted by Jacopo di Mazzeo.
The presbytery pavement is raised, housing the crypt underneath, while the nave and the aisles, separated by columns, have vaults and wooden truss covers respectively. The right aisle was once occupied by the Chapel of St. James (San Jacopo), built by bishop Atto in the mid-12th century to house the relics of Saint James brought from Santiago de Compostela. The silver altar of the saint can be seen today in the Crucifix Chapel.
The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (Capello del Santissimo Sacramento), which houses the tabernacle, is also known as the Chapel of San Donato from a painting portraying the Madonna Enthroned between St. John the Baptist and St. Donatus (c. 1475-1486), on the right hand wall. The painting had been commissioned from Andrea del Verrocchio by the heirs of Donato de' Medici and was started by him but, left unfinished, was completed by Lorenzo di Credi. The bishop next to the Madonna has been identified as Saint Zeno. In the middle is the Assumption of the Virgin by Giovan Battista Paggi (1590-1600), while next to the entrance is the tomb of Donato de' Medici (1475), attributed to Antonio Rossellino.
It was begun in 1287, when Andrea di Jacopo d'Ognabene was commissioned to make representations of the Madonna and Child for the rear of the altar, and, for the front section, of Stories of the New Testament, Christ in Majesty between Mary and St. James and Three Stories of St. James, which he finished in 1316. In addition, Pace di Valentino, a Sienese goldsmith, created some of the figures surrounding St. James. Giglio Pisano executed the large silver statue depicting St. James Enthroned (1349-1353), commissioned as thanksgiving after the end of the Black Death in 1348.
The vault of the presbytery is decorated by frescoes by Domencio Cresti, depicting the Father in Glory, Fall of the Rebel Angels, Fall of Adam and the Annunciation (1602). The organ is from 1793. In the apse is a painting by Cristofano Allori portraying the Resurrection (1606-1610), beside which are two clay statues of Saint Zeno and Saint James (1609), attributed to the school of Giambologna. To the right of the high altar is a Pentecost by Gregorio Pagani (1602), while on the left is an Ascension by Benedetto Veli (1606).
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Pistoia Cathedral, Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy, Europe
Pistoia Cathedral is the main religious building of Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy, located in the Piazza del Duomo in the centre of the city. It is the seat of the Bishop of Pistoia and is dedicated to Saint Zeno of Verona. Most probably built in the 10th century, it has a façade in Romanesque style, inspired by other churches in Pistoia (San Bartolomeo and San Jacopo). The interior has a nave and two side-aisles, with a presbytery and crypt. A restoration in 1952-1999 returned the church to its original lines. It has been speculated that a smaller cathedral may have existed in Pistoia as early as the 5th century AD, as it had already a bishop at that time. The location of such a building is however unknown: possible sites are those of the current cathedral, of the Pieve di Sant'Andrea or of San Pier Maggiore. The first mention of a cathedral dates to 923. In 998 a diploma of Emperor Otto III refers to a Palaeo-Christian building located between the cathedral square (Piazza del Duomo) and the city's watch tower. In 1108 the cathedral was damaged by a fire, and was probably rebuilt over the next few decades, as in 1145 an altar was dedicated in it to Saint James the Great by Bishop Saint Atto. In 1202 another fire damaged the cathedral again. In 1274-1275 the aisles were covered with vaults, and in 1287 a new altar was begun. In 1298 there was further damage caused by an earthquake. In 1336 a statue of Saint Zeno was placed in the west front, sculpted by Jacopo di Mazzeo. Between 1379 and 1440 the façade was reconstructed with the addition of three tiers of loggias and a portico. In 1504 Andrea della Robbia was commissioned to undertake the decoration of the archivolt (for which he created a festoon with plant themes and, in the middle, the crest of the Opera di San Jacopo), of the portico as well as of the lunette with bas-reliefs over the central portal, depicting the Madonna with Child and Angels. He finished the works in 1505.
In 1598-1614 the medieval choir was demolished, the side chapels were modified and the original apse was replaced by a Baroque tribune surmounted by a dome designed by Jacopo Lafri, while the main aisle was covered by new cross vaults. The decoration of the tribune ceilng was also undertaken, and paintings in the same area and in the main chapel were added. In 1721 a statue of Saint James the Great, by Andrea Vaccà, was added to the façade. The medieval mullioned windows, replaced by Baroque windows, were restored between 1952 and 1966, and the vaults over the aisle were removed. The presbytery pavement is raised, housing the crypt underneath, while the nave and the aisles, separated by columns, have vaults and wooden truss covers respectively. The right aisle was once occupied by the Chapel of St. James (San Jacopo), built by bishop Atto in the mid-12th century to house the relics of Saint James brought from Santiago de Compostela. The silver altar of the saint can be seen today in the Crucifix Chapel. The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (Capello del Santissimo Sacramento), which houses the tabernacle, is also known as the Chapel of San Donato from a painting portraying the Madonna Enthroned between St. John the Baptist and St. Donatus (c. 1475-1486), on the right hand wall. The painting had been commissioned from Andrea del Verrocchio by the heirs of Donato de' Medici and was started by him but, left unfinished, was completed by Lorenzo di Credi. The bishop next to the Madonna has been identified as Saint Zeno. In the middle is the Assumption of the Virgin by Giovan Battista Paggi (1590-1600), while next to the entrance is the tomb of Donato de' Medici (1475), attributed to Antonio Rossellino. This chapel contains the altar of Saint James, in embossed silver sheet, which was moved here in 1953. It was begun in 1287, when Andrea di Jacopo d'Ognabene was commissioned to make representations of the Madonna and Child for the rear of the altar, and, for the front section, of Stories of the New Testament, Christ in Majesty between Mary and St. James and Three Stories of St. James, which he finished in 1316. Giglio Pisano executed the large silver statue depicting St. James Enthroned (1349-1353), commissioned as thanksgiving after the end of the Black Death in 1348. The two side antependia were executed by Leonardo di Ser Giovanni and Francesco Niccolai, with Stories of the Old Testament and Stories of St. James, between 1361 and 1371. Other works include the Apostles, St. Eulalia, Bishop Atto, St. John the Baptist and Salome by Piero d'Arrigo Tedesco (1380-1390), another Christ in Majesty with St. Anthony Abbot, St. Stephen and the cusp by Nofri di Buto and Atto di Piero Braccini (1394-1398). Filippo Brunelleschi decorated the front part with two busts of prophets (1401). The other sides were decorated by Piero d'Antonio da Pisa and Domenico da Imola.
Top 15 Things To Do In Pistoia, Italy
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Here are top 15 things to do in Pistoia, Italy
All photos belong to their rightful owners. Credit next to name.
1. San Giovanni Fuorcivitas - Claudio Giovanni Colombo / shutterstock
2. Pistoia Zoo -
3. Cathedral of St. Zeno - maudanros / shutterstock
4. St. Zeno Baptistery - maudanros / shutterstock
5. Visit the town of Montecatini Alto - Muzhik / shutterstock
6. Museo Capitolare -
7. Palazzo del Comune - D.serra1 / shutterstock
8. Monte Cimone - Claudiovidri / shutterstock
9. Church of Sant’Andrea - Stepniak / shutterstock
10. Visit the spa town of Montecatini Terme - Hibiscus81 / shutterstock
11. Riserva naturale Acquerino -
12. Villa la Magia -
13. Church of San Michele Arcangelo -
14. Take a day trip to Florence - Mikadun / shutterstock
15. Enjoy a fine meal at the Ristorante Rafanelli -
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PISTOIA Top 29 Tourist Places | Pistoia Tourism | ITALY
Pistoia (Things to do - Places to Visit) - PISTOIA Top Tourist Places
City in Italy
Pistoia is a city in Italy’s Tuscany region. Set around its central Piazza del Duomo are the Cathedral of San Zeno, which has a silver altar, and the octagonal Battistero di San Giovanni in Corte baptistery.
Also on the square is the Palazzo dei Vescovi, an 11th-century palace housing a number of museums. On the nearby Piazza della Sala, the Pozzo del Leoncino is a well with a marble frame.
PISTOIA Top 29 Tourist Places | Pistoia Tourism
Things to do in PISTOIA - Places to Visit in Pistoia
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PISTOIA Top 29 Tourist Places - Pistoia, Italy, Europe
Places to see in ( Pistoia - Italy )
Places to see in ( Pistoia - Italy )
Pistoia is a city in Italy’s Tuscany region. Set around its central Piazza del Duomo are the Cathedral of San Zeno, which has a silver altar, and the octagonal Battistero di San Giovanni in Corte baptistery. Also on the square is the Palazzo dei Vescovi, an 11th-century palace housing a number of museums. On the nearby Piazza della Sala, the Pozzo del Leoncino is a well with a marble frame. Pretty Pistoia sits snugly at the foot of the Apennines. An easy day trip from Pisa, Lucca or Florence, it thoroughly deserved its 2017 status as European City of Culture. A town that has grown well beyond its medieval ramparts, its centro storico is well preserved and stands guardian to striking contemporary art.
Pistoia is a little-known delight. It lies in the tourist heart of Tuscany, a stone's throw from Florence, Lucca and Siena, but tends to get missed out by travellers. This isn't completely surprising. The town is less grand than Florence, less ancient than Siena and less complete than Lucca, and its name doesn't perhaps sound as pretty. Yet Pistoia is a gem. All the ingredients of an old Tuscan city are there - old walls, striped churches, frescoes, medieval watchtowers, arcaded piazzas - packed into a rather small centre.
Pistoia was a smallish Roman town, notable mainly for a nearby battle in which Cicero's great enemy the conspirator Catiline died an outcast and rebel. It flourished in the Middle Ages, getting itself recognised as a pilgrimage site for the cult of Saint James and establishing a form of republican self-government, like several other Tuscan cities. Later rule by Lucca and Florence seems to have done the place no lasting damage. Pistoia was well known for its crafts, and has some claim to the origin of pistol, originally meaning a small weapon. The city fared less well during the tumults of the 19th century and could be described as rather a backwater today, but something of the old colour still remains. There's a medieval-style palio called the Giostra dell'Orso (including processions and a horseback tournament between rival neighbourhoods) in the main piazza on 25th July, while several villages once under the aegis of Pistoia stage their own historical events on other dates in the summer.
Visiting Pistoia’s old town is like taking a journey back in time. In fact, Pistoia is a city with multiple amazing facets, thanks to its elegance and refined beauty. The evidence of the city's Roman origins appears immediately upon entry: an unexpected series of churches, cloisters, palaces and art treasures not only dating back to the ancient past, but to more recent times, as well. Amidst the narrow, Medieval streets and irregularly-shaped piazzas, prestigious palaces and small tower-houses, a surprising city emerges, bearing an innate an discrete charm, perfect for travelers who appreciate quality and slow-paced tourism.
Not far from Pistoia, one reaches Pescia, a town that has a lot to offer to those who passionate for art and nature. The city's origins are Medieval and belong to both banks of the river from which Pescia takes its name: on the right bank, the center's foundation is its characteristic, elongated Piazza, while on the left lies Pescia's religious hub. Among the sights to see, beginning with Porta Fiorentina, one arrives at the Cathedral, re-built at the end of the 17th Century. Just opposite is the Church of San Giuliano, and next to the Cathedral is the Seminary Cloister and the nearby Church of the Oratory of Sant'Antonio Abate, conserving the wooden sculpture The Ugly Saints that dates back to the 13th Century. Also here is the Gipsoteca Libero Andreotti Civic Museum with its plaster cast collection.
Waterways, and chestnut forests, mills and paper mills, remains of ancient walls and picturesque views open onto the valley, making for lovely visits and walks among history and nature: this is Svizzera Pesciatina, located to Pescia's north. It is also known as Valleriana; the former name honors Giovan Carlo Sismondi, historian and economist from Geneva that here found the valley landscapes and colors of the valleys so similar to those of his own Switzerland.
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Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy
Pistoia is a city in Tuscany with an attractive old centre. The main sight of the city is the Piazza del duomo, with the cathedral of San Zeno and several old palaces. There are also several interesting churches like the Chiesa di Sant'Andrea, with a pure romanesque interior and the Chiesa di San Giobanni Forcivitas with a stripped gothic facade.
Best Attractions and Places to See in Pistoia, Italy
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List of Best Things to do in Pistoia
Sant'Andrea
Piazza del Duomo
Campanile del Duomo di Pistoia
Cathedral of Saint Zeno
Piazza della Sala
Ospedale del Ceppo
Baptistery
Giardino Zoologico di Pistoia
Pistoia Sotterranea
San Bartolomeo in Pantano
Church of St. Zeno - Inside Verona - ENG
Romanesque Basilica built in the XII century in honor of the eighth Bishop of Verona and beloved patron Saint of the city, Zeno. Very famous are the bronze plates of the portal and the triptych of Andrea Mantegna, “the Virgin on the throne”.
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Places to see in ( Pistoia - Italy ) Piazza del Duomo
Places to see in ( Pistoia - Italy ) Piazza del Duomo
Tourists can reach the whole medieval Piazza del Duomo through Via Cavour through Piazza della Sala , Where it keeps the market. The square is so unusual compared to normal Italian squares: the baptistery, hidden in a recess side of the square, is built in Gothic style covered with bands of white and green. The Duomo di Pistoia is located opposite the baptistery, by putting on display a facade devoid of ornaments. The tourist is forced in this way to focus its attention on the bell tower and sull'enorme buildings surrounding the complex and well-decorated building in the City, which houses inside the Museo Civico and its collection of Tuscan art from the thirteenth to fourteenth century, and the Praetorian palace, once home to the mayor.
Unique is the breadth of the square, gives the impression that it was designed for a much larger city of Pistoia we know today. For centuries, Piazza del Duomo was the focus of civil and ecclesiastical power, with inside many buildings of merit such as:
The Cathedral of San Zeno, headed to San Zeno bishop, who keeps inside the silver altar of San Jacopo.
The bell tower, built on an ancient tower of Lombard origin, in Romanesque style, is divided into three orders of balconies and equipped with belfry with a cusp that because of earthquakes that flagellarono the city in late medieval era was rebuilt several times. Total reaches a height of 67 meters.
The Baptistery of San Giovanni in court the fourteenth century, Gothic style, with decorations in green and white marble.
The Palace of Bishops composed of porch, the first floor, in Gothic style and restored in 1981. The underground is enriched by a route important archaeological excavation site with a stele type of Etruscan Fiesole, a Roman furnace and stretches of the walls of Pistoriae. Not many years is open to the public and is a rare example of stratigraphic excavation of the museum.
The Praetorian Palace or the court, also in Gothic style (he lost in the interior part of his style because of extension works carried nell'Ottocento). It is famous for its courtyard with the coats of arms of judges.
The Palazzo del Comune, with a beautiful facade adorned with mullioned windows and triple.
The former church of Santa Maria Cavalier.
The Catilina tower, 30 meters high.
Piazza del Duomo is not only religious and bureaucracy: once a year in fact, the square comes alive at most of the season most important Pistoia, the Dell'Orso carousel, the answer pistoiese medieval traditions of the Palio di Siena.
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PISTOIA - DUOMO (Cattedrale di San Zeno) E BATTISTERO - esterni e interni
La piazza del Duomo di Pistoia raccoglie i più importanti edifici della città: la Cattedrale, il Palazzo del Comune ed il Tribunale. Si giunge in piazza del Duomo dalla bella Via degli Orafi e l’effetto è assicurato… davanti agli occhi si apre una grande e splendida scena che riporta al passato, strutture imponenti, maestose, slanciate.
Battistero PistoiaL’antico campanile domina la piazza. Dall'alto dei suoi 200 gradini si gode una splendida vista panoramica. Sono organizzate visite guidate gratuite al Campanile nel fine settimana, con punto di partenza in Piazza del Duomo, alle ore 11.00 e alle ore 16.00.
La cattedrale di San Zeno, già esistente prima del 1000 custodisce un Tesoro. Al suo interno le antiche strutture romaniche si accompagnano agli interventi rinascimentali e barocchi, alle modifiche cinquecentesche ed a quelle ottocentesche. Bello il prezioso altare d’argento dell’antica cappella dedicata a Santo Jacopo (il patrono di Pistoia). Da vedere il monumento al Cardinale Forteguerri progettato, ed in parte realizzato, dal maestro di Leonardo da Vinci, Andrea Verrocchio.
Il palazzo Vescovile, effettiva residenza fino a fine ‘700, ospita oggi un museo.
Il battistero di San Giovanni in Corte ha pianta ottogonale ed è in marmo bianco di Carrara e verde di Prato. Risale al Trecento. Bellissimo il portale.
Il Palazzo Comunale (risalente a fine Duecento, ospita il Museo Civico) e il Palazzo Pretorio, completano la piazza. Un cenno merita il Palazzo Pretorio, ancora oggi sede del tribunale: costruito dopo la metà del 1300 ha un bel cortile interno (visitabile) con le volte affrescate e le pareti decorate da numerosi stemmi.
Speciale Capoluoghi d'Italia - Pistoia
Capoluoghi ci porta in Toscana a Pistoia, città dei Pulpiti, celebrata capitale italiana della cultura nel 2017. Il capoluogo dell’omonima Provincia è un vero museo di arte e storia. L’itinerario religioso è senz’altro uno dei punti di forza di Pistoia. Non a caso la maestosa cattedrale di San Zeno conserva l’unica reliquia di San Giacomo esistente fuori da Santiago di Compostela, per questo in città c’è una forte devozione per il Santo. Inoltre la cupola della Basilica della Madonna dell’Umiltà è la terza in Italia per grandezza. Nel corso del programma incontriamo il sindaco, il vescovo, l’arciprete della cattedrale, l’assessore al Turismo, il presidente dell’eccellente fondazione MAIC, il rappresentante dell’antica Romea Strata e gli altri protagonisti del territorio. Il conduttore Mario Placidini ci accompagna nella visita del centro storico, delle pregevoli chiese, della torre campanaria, del museo diocesano, dell’antico Spedale del Ceppo, in una gioiosa passeggiata alla scoperta delle opere dei tanti artisti del passato. Inoltre mostriamo i grandi treni d’epoca della ferrovia Porrettana e ammiriamo gli eccellenti vivai del luogo. Infine conosciamo le manifestazioni, e in una trattoria degustiamo i saporiti piatti tipici toscani. Buona visione.
Magnificent Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore in Verona, Italy (April 2018)
A Romanesque basilica rebuilt after the earthquake in 1117 round a nucleus dating from the 4th or 5th century, and setting for Romeo and Juliet wedding. Zeno (d. April 12, 371 AD) is the patron saint of the city of Verona.
Inside the church you can see 13th and 14th century frescoes, the baptismal font, the ribbed vault ceiling, the crypt where the remains of San Zeno are kept, the polychromatic statue of San Zeno called “San Zeno laughing” and Andrea Mantegna’s famous Triptych (1457-59).
Aside from the exquisite beauty of the interior, main attractions are the large rose window called a Wheel of Fortune (Ruota della Fortuna), the marble bas-reliefs on either side of the porch, the famous bronze doors, the bell-tower and the Abbey Tower (12th C.).
Background music: Air Prelude by Kevin MacLeod
Church of Saint Francis, Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy, Europe
The church of Saint Francis in Pistoia is a church of the XIII century dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. Construction of the complex began in 1289. The church was built after the Franciscan model, with a single hall covered with trusses and articulated in the transept chapels. The simplicity and decorative style makes barely recognizable Gothic language. The façade was completed only in 1707 with marble covering with white and green stripes. Inside the walls of the nave still bear traces of the decoration with frescoes painted during the fourteenth century. Beyond the great triumphal arch opens the main chapel, decorated with frescoes of St. Francis Stories (1343); the Bracciolini Chapel frescoes with the Stories of Mary carried by the second decade of the fifteenth century; Pazzaglia in the chapel, with frescoes Stories of the Saints Antonio and Ludovico di Giovanni di Bartolomeo Cristiani; in Gatteschi chapel Stories of St. Donnino di Bonaccorso di Cino. Between 1386 and the end of the century they were decorated the chapter house (frescoes by Antonio Vite) and the sacristy. Focusing on the frescoes of the main chapel in San Francesco in Pistoia, discovered during the twenty years of the twentieth century, there is a perception, observing the best preserved fragments of an execution of prime quality. The decorative program of the chapel, which focuses on the stories of St. Francis, recalls the very similar issue cycle of the upper Basilica of Assisi. The stories of the saint stand out for their monumental setting which allows the performer to portray the characters in the natural scale inserted in evocative architectural scenes. The poor condition makes it difficult to read even the most central arch busts presenting figures of the Apostles, Doctors of the Church and not always recognizable Saints except in the jambs including: St. Francis, St. Jerome, St. Augustine and a holy Bishop. On the back wall are figures within newsstands Lazarus, a Santa and a Magdalene, while the times are represented Virtues Franciscan. Vasari pointed as the author of the frescoes in question Puccio Capanna and it is in this direction that moves the first study of this cycle, conducted by Chiappelli, who qualified as Siena chromatic intonations that escaped to a Florentine practice. These frescoes are indeed one of the rare examples where the Tuscan figurative culture open to that from beyond the Apennines. Unanimously criticism has identified for them an author of the Bolognese master and was the Longhi to propose the name of Scannabecchi Dalmasio based on the presence of the painter in Florence and Pistoia to and more than half of the fourteenth century. The personality of this painter was an important point of contact and artistic mediation between the centers of Bologna and Florence, suggesting Pistoia which confluence center and spread of multiple pictorial instances. To understand the grounds of a clear painter bolognese extraction for its natural restlessness (Mellini) in Tuscan environment, it can be useful to bring to light two aspects: the first is related to the figure of Bandino of Ciantori, the client or one of the richest merchants of Pistoia, with traffic in Northern Italy, which took the award in perpetuum of the main chapel of St. Francis, and the second concerns the Giotto's workshop that the loss of the great teacher and was at that time suffered engaged in Milan. A plausible chronological reference may be 1343 date of plaque in the chapel (Previtali, Mellini, Boskovitz) which would establish a post quem term for the Dalmasio activities in Pistoia. In addition, in May 1343 the brothers rely on Lippo Memmi the realization of the polyptych altar (now lost), which according to Vasari was executed by Memmi on Simone Martini design. A plurality of cultural elements emerge from the pictorial language that Dalmasio unfolds on the walls of the chapel, chief among them is that of Emilia usage The expressiveness of the figures in the coat Dono scene, but you hear echoes of the solemn poetic and archaic by Pietro Lorenzetti in 1340 he ended a Madonna and Child with angels (now in the Uffizi) for this church. Spatiality staged by Dalmasio in the stories of the saint can recall that Assisi, especially in the Dream of Innocent III, although with the inclusion of architectural details (discernible in the lintel decoration of the room and the pope read) that deviate a bit 'from the Umbrian model and the integrated vision crucified with interesting details like the obvious inspiration to the dome of the Pantheon for the structure of the apse or inserting a bundle on the window, indicating a descriptive naturalism staff. This spatial planning could be mediated by the lesson of Ambrogio Lorenzetti, as evidenced by the scene of the Sermon to the birds where it is less than the reference to the Assisi model, the more marked is the Sienese master in the walled city views and nell'accesa reddish tone.
Duomo di San Zeno - Pistoia
Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy, Europe
Pistoia is a city and comune in the Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of a province of the same name, located about 30 kilometres (19 mi) west and north of Florence and is crossed by the Ombrone Pistoiese, a tributary of the River Arno. It is a typical Italian medieval city, and it attracts many tourists, especially in the summer. Pistoria (in Latin other possible spellings are Pistorium or Pistoriae) was a centre of Gallic, Ligurian and Etruscan settlements before becoming a Roman colony in the 6th century BC, along the important road Via Cassia: in 62 BC the demagogue Catiline and his fellow conspirators were slain nearby. From the 5th century the city was a bishopric, and during the Lombardic kingdom it was a royal city and had several privileges. Pistoia's most splendid age began in 1177 when it proclaimed itself a free commune: in the following years it became an important political centre, erecting walls and several public and religious buildings. In 1254 the taking of Ghibelline Pistoia by Guelph Florence, was among the origins of the division of the Florentine Guelphs into Black and White factions. Pistoia remained a Florentine holding except for a brief period in the 14th century, when Castruccio Castracani captured it for Lucca, and was officially annexed to Florence in 1530. During the 14th century Ormanno Tedici was one of the Lords of the city. Dante mentioned in his Divina Commedia the free town of Pistoia as the home town of Vanni Fucci, who is encountered in Inferno tangled up in a knot of snakes while cursing God. One of the most famous families of the city was that of the Rospigliosi, owners of agricultural estates and wool merchants; the Rospighliosi provided a pope in 1667 with Giulio Rospigliosi, who briefly reigned as Clement IX (1667–69), and gave several cardinals to the church. In 1786 a famous Jansenist episcopal synod was convened in Pistoia. According to one theory, Pistoia lent its name to the pistol, which started to be manufactured in Pistoia during the 16th century. But today, it is also notable for the extensive plant nurseries spreading around it. Consequently, Pistoia is also famous for its flower markets, as is the nearby Pescia. Although not as visited as other cities in Tuscany, mostly due to the city's industrial environs, Pistoia presents a well-preserved and charming medieval city inside the old walls. The large Piazza del Duomo, dominated by the cathedral, is lined with other medieval buildings, such as the Palazzo del Comune and the Palazzo del Podestà: it is the setting (in July) of the Giostra dell'Orso (Bear Joust), when the best horsemen of the city's traditional quarters tilt with lances at a target held up by a dummy shaped like a bear. The original Cathedral of San Zeno (5th century) burned down in 1108, but was rebuilt during the 12th century, and received incremental improvements until the 17th century. The façade has a prominent Romanesque style, while the interior received heavy Baroque additions which were removed during the 1960s. Its outstanding feature is the Altar of St James, an exemplar of the silversmith's craft begun in 1287 but not finished until the 15th century. Its various sections contain 628 figures, the total weighing nearly a ton. The Romanesque belfry, standing at some 67 metres (220 ft), was erected over an ancient Lombard tower. In the square is also the 14th-century Baptistry, in Gothic style, with white and green striped marble revetment characteristic of the Tuscan Gothic. The Palazzo dei Vescovi (Bishops' Palace), is characterized by a Gothic loggiato on the first floor. It is known from 1091, initially as a fortified noble residence. In the 12th century it received a more decorated appearance, with mullioned windows and frescoes, of which traces remain. It was later modified in the mid-12th (when the St. James Chapel, mentioned by Dante Alighieri in the XXIV canto of his Inferno) and in the 13th century; to the latter restoration belongs the white marble-decorated staircase, one of the most ancient examples in Italy in civil architecture. In the 14th century, the Chapel of St. Nicholas was decorated with stories of the namesake saint and other martyrs. The Tower of Catilina is from the High Middle Ages, and stands 30 metres (98 ft) high.
Battistero di San Giovanni in corte, Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy, Europe
The Baptistery of San Giovanni Rotondo in the court or of Pistoia is located in the cathedral square, opposite the cathedral, in the space of the old curtis regia. The name comes from the ancient church of Santa Maria in Court, Lombard period, which has taken the place. Its reconstruction in its present form with an octagonal base was started since 1303. A project contribution of Nicola Pisano is purely hypothetical and is rich in the testimony on construction work carried out until 1361. It is considered among the finest examples of Tuscan Gothic, because combines Florentine elements, Pisa and Siena. The exterior is entirely covered with white and green marble, which is by Cellino di Nese. It has three portals, finely decorated with bas-reliefs and capitals carved in marble. Unlike the Siena Cathedral and the Orvieto, the main portal is structurally unusual in that surmounted by an entire triangular pediment with an openwork rose window at the center. The pyramid that forms the dome is preceded by a blind porch floor and an ambulatory surrounded by a balustrade colonels spiral, while the corner pillars ending in pinnacles rich. The lantern placed on top of the dome resumes the octagonal plan of the Baptistery. The imposing monument reaches a height of about 40 meters. As for the interior ornamental apparatus, they highlight the terracotta tiles of the font that stand out in comparison with the simplicity of the environment. The restoration of 1975 revealed in the baptismal font dated 1226, and the sculptor's name, Lanfranco da Como. In the Middle Ages, in front of the baptistery, the Sabbath day was held a weekly market.
Pistoia bell tower, Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy, Europe
The bell tower of the cathedral of Pistoia, dating from the twelfth century, alongside the facade of the cathedral on the left side. Despite the information available from the Archives of the Chapter of Florence's Cathedral and the State from the Archive are also deficient, it has received considerable credit thesis, furthermore, strengthened by Beani, according to which the bell tower of the Cathedral of Pistoia would present itself today as the result the restructuring, by Giovanni Pisano as evidenced by Vasari- of an ancient Lombard tower. To further support this proposal contributes to the fact that the tower appears unusually separated from the Cathedral of San Zeno and is divided into three overlapping bands, each of which is characterized by a particular style register; from bottom to top: Lombard, Pisa, Pisa and Lucca. Starting from the base there are three planes devoid of openings, between which the upper houses the clock, two open double windows, three moved by loggette and the last, the ninth containing the bell cell. The top two floors, in the outside crowning ornament, present a Ghibelline battlements dovetail. Among the construction materials are used alternately, green serpentine marble and local limestone. The bell tower of the Cathedral of Pistoia is part of a series of bell towers with summit terraces defined in loggia, among which also includes the tower of the church of San Nicola in Pisa.
Places to see in ( Pistoia - Italy ) Ospedale del Ceppo
Places to see in ( Pistoia - Italy ) Ospedale del Ceppo
Ospedale del Ceppo is a medieval hospital in Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy. According to tradition, the Ospedale was founded in 1277 by the company of Santa Maria or del Ceppo dei poveri (The offering trunk of the poor). In 1345 documents mention ongoing works for a new cloister, oratory and domus (residence for women). It became the main city's hospital after the donations received in the wake of the Black Death of 1348. Initially given to the cathedral chapter, from 1350 the commune of Pistoia tried to absorb direction of the company. After the conquest of Pistoia by the Republic of Florence (1401), the Florentines officially confirmed the lay status of the hospital.
In 1456 the hospital administrators commissioned the Florentine architect Michelozzo di Bartolomeo a restoration of the building. The election of the spedalingo (rector) was often contended between the noble Pistoiese families, sometimes causing popular turmoil such as in 1498. In 1494 the Compagnia del Ceppo was expelled in 1494, the hospital administrated by the communal priori. In 1501 the hospital was submitted to the Hospital of Santa Maria Nuova in Florence; the Florentine spedalingo, Leonardo Buonafede, ordered in this period the realization of the frieze which is now the main feature of the monumental façade.
In 1784 Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo of Tuscany aggregated the hospital to a new entity including the other Pistoiese hospital of San Gregorio, the Spedali Riuniti di Pistoia, the spedalingo returning to be a Pistoiese. The current complex is the result of a series of additions and restorations of the original 13th-century edifice, which corresponds to today's corsia di Sant'Atto, a large ward with big windows now existing in a 16th-century renovation. In the 15th century the wing and the current façade were added, with the Renaissance arcaded loggia built in 1502, inspired by the Ospedale degli Innocenti at Florence. The loggia is decorated by a ceramic glaze frieze esecuted from 1525 by Santi Buglioni: it portrays the seven works of mercy, mixed with scenes of the Virtues. A panel was replaced in 1586 by a new one, not in ceramic glaze.
Also from 1525 are the tondoes by Giovanni della Robbia, depicting the Annunciation, the Glory of the Virgin, the Visitation and the Medici coat of arms. The corsia di San Leopoldo (Ward of St. Leopold), now the seat of the Pistoia Medical Academy, was originally intended for the contagious patients.
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Bishops Palace, Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy, Europe
The ancient palace of the Bishops of Pistoia, situated in Piazza del Duomo, was built in the eleventh century in the ancient market space that Emperor Otto III had donated to the bishop of Pistoia, when the contrasts between the chapter and the bishop led quest ' last to build an independent dwelling. It is attested from 1091 and was initially a fortified residence and provided with battlements, then in the twelfth century acquired the look of a mansion with mullioned windows, triple lancet windows and frescoes in the main hall of which traces remain difficult to interpret. Some substantial changes to the architecture of the building were carried out between the mid-twelfth century and the beginning of XIII. The first attested is the one that changed the bishop's court, with the construction of the sacristy of St. James, built between 1163 and 1170 and annexed to the Chapel of San Jacopo, where the relic of the saint was kept. This was the sacristy where the theft occurred Vanni Fucci narrated by Dante in canto XXIV and perpetrated in 1293 or 1294. Its construction was made necessary by the lack of a local service for the chapel because of disagreements with municipality of Pistoia who had wanted the Chapel of San Jacopo made in the first two bays of the left nave of the cathedral, but separated from the rest of the building so as not to create confusion between the cult of San Iacopo, proclaimed patron of the city towards 1145, and the worship previous San Zeno, was patron of Pistoia Church and the Cathedral. In the last decades of the twelfth century above the vestry it was built a bishop's chapel in brick, probably by Comacine workers, as suggests the roof apse on the east side feature of castles, abbeys and French bishops. Dedicated to Saint Nicholas, it was decorated by big stars with eight rays on a blue background in the vault, similar to that of the sacristy. In 1220 has documented the discovery leaning stairway to the north wall, set on a sturdy low arch and decorated with two-toned marble, one of the oldest Italian civil architecture, even earlier than the town hall of Todi and Orvieto palace of the people . During the XIV century the walls of the Chapel of St. Nicholas were painted with stories of St. Nicholas and the Martyrs, at the end of the century a large fresco of the Crucifixion was commissioned by the bishop Andrea Franchi. In the fourteenth century the building was expanded in two phases. In the first staircase it was covered with a factory body resting on four pointed arches brick finished in the top three mullioned windows. Later the porch was extended to the west, taking its current size. Resulted unusual is the use of brickwork that the great gallery of the first floor. In the fifteenth century, the rooms on the ground floor were rented for small shops and some rooms of the bishop were decorated with frescoes. In the sixteenth century the building reached a remarkable elegance but began to be lacking in utility rooms. Bishop Scipione de 'Ricci found it chaotic and obtained by the Grand Duke Peter Leopold permission to build a new bishop's palace. In 1786 the old Palace of Bishops contiguous to the cathedral was sold to private owners. In the following decades the building was radically changed by increasing the number of internal plans, dividing it into apartments and shops and modifying heavily facades. In 1936 he was made a first restoration of the main facade, which brought to light some parts of the Gothic-Renaissance style. Since 1976, the Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia, after having gradually acquired the entire ownership of the property by the various private, began a complex and radical renovation of the building that ended in 1980, with the recovery of most of the structures and of 'original appearance.