San Matteo (Genoa)
Church of Saint Matthew (Chiesa di San Matteo) | |
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Roman Catholic | |
Province | Genoa |
Ecclesiastical or organizational status | National monument |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | Genoa, Italy |
Geographic coordinates | 44°24′29.60″N 8°55′58.90″E / 44.4082222°N 8.9330278°E |
Architecture | |
Type | Church |
Style | Gothic |
Completed | 1125 |
San Matteo is a
.History
The church was founded in 1125 by Martino Doria, as the private chapel of
The building was again renovated in the mid-16th century by order of Andrea Doria, who commissioned the work to Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli (changes included the presbytery and the dome). It was further renovated in 1557–1559, under design by Giovanni Battista Castello (nave and aisles) and decoration, realized by Luca Cambiaso among the others.
Description
Of the Gothic building, the nave, aisles and the façade are in white (marble) and black (
On the left side of the church is the cloister of St. Matthew, of quadrangular plan, dating to 1308. It has ogival arches on double small columns.
Artworks of the interior include the Miracle of the Ethiopian Dragon by Luca Cambiaso and the Vocation of St. Matthew by Giovanni Battista Castello, a wooden "Deposition" by Anton Maria Maragliano, and the tomb of Andrea Doria, executed by Montorsoli, in the crypt. At the high altar is a Holy Family with St. Anne by Bernardo Castello (16th century). According to the tradition, the sword housed under the altar belonged to Andrea Doria, and was donated to this church by Pope Paul III. The church has an original organ, constructed by Antonio Alari in 1773.
Notes
- ^ Carden, RW. p232-233
Sources
- Pazzini Paglieri, Nadia; Rinangelo Paglieri (1990). Chiese in Liguria. Genoa: Sagep. 88-7058-361-9.
- The City of Genoa (1908) by Robert Walter Carden; Publisher Methuen and Co., 36 Essex St. W.C. London, England. pages 220-244.