Friday, October 16, 2026

 

Italy—Emilia Romagna and Tuscany—9

 

Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, Montecatini Terme, Tuscany

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

The basilica was built in the 1950s to replace an earlier church.




From Trip Advisor



Basilica of the Blessed Virgin of the Castle, Fiorano Modenese Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1989.

 

The basilica is built on a hill over the ruins of a castle.  The castle was built in the 10th Century to protect the local people from invaders.  A 15th Century painting of the Virgin Mary was considered miraculous after it survived two invasions.  The castle was destroyed in the 16th Century and the church was built in the 17th Century.





Top picture is from a local source and the other two are from TripAdvisor.

 


Basilica of St. Agatha, Asciano, Tuscany

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1991.

The Romanesque and Gothic church was built between the 11th and 13th Centuries.




From a local source and TripAdvisor


Cathedral Basilica of St. Stephen, Prato, Tuscany

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1996.

The basilica is the cathedral for the Diocese of Prato.  The Gothic Romanesque church was built between about 1100 and 1500.  A pulpit is partially attributed to Donatello.







All are from Wikipedia.


Basilica of St. Rufillo, Forlimpopoli, Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1999.

The basilica was originally built in the 6th and 7th Centuries but has been enlarged since then.





From TripAdvisor and Wikipedia


Cathedral Basilica of St. Colomba, Rimini, Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

The basilica is the cathedral for the Diocese of Rimini.  Construction began on the Romanesque church in 800 but was discontinued in 1468.  Some of the artwork, including a crucifix were done by Giotto.  The church was heavily damaged during the Second World War but was restored.





From Wikipedia.


Basilica of Our Lady of Our Lady of Grace, Cortemaggiore, Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. 

The Gothic church was built in 1480.





From Wikipedia.


Sanctuary Basilica of St. Mary of Steccata, Parma, Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.

The Knights of Malta built a church here in 1492 to house an image of St. John the Baptist thought to be miraculous.  The current Renaissance church was built in the early 16th Century to house an icon of a nursing Madonna.  Pilgrims came requiring a fence (steccata) to be built around the image.  Several dukes of Parma are buried in the church.





From Wikipedia.


Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, La Verna, Tuscany

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 1921.

I missed this one.

St. Francis of Assisi received the Stigmata at this site in 1224.  The Renaissance and Baroque church was built starting in 1260 but continued until the 18th Century.




From local sources and Wikipedia.


Friday, October 9, 2026

Italy—Emilia Romagna and Tuscany—8


Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and Apostle and St. Francis of Assisi, Massa-Carrara, Tuscany

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1964.

The basilica is a co-cathedral for the Diocese of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli.  It was built in the 17th Century to replace an earlier church.


From Wikipedia.

 

Cathedral Basilica of St. Zeno, Pistoia, Tuscany

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1965.

 

The basilica is the cathedral for the Diocese of Pistoia.  The Romanesque Basilica was built in the 10th Century and likely replaced an earlier cathedral.  The church has numerous paintings.






From Wikipedia.


Sanctuary Basilica of Our Lady of Help, Bobbio, Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1970.

A possible miracle took place here in the 13th Century and a Romanesque church was built here starting in 1472, although not completed until 1836.




All are from TripAdvisor


 

Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Fontenova, Monsummano Terme, Tuscany

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1974.

The Virgin Mary appeared here on June 9, 1573 and the church was constructed in the first decade of the 17th Century.



From TripAdvisor and Wikipedia


 

Cathedral Basilica of St. Cerbone Vescovo, Massa Marittima, Tuscany

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1975.

The basilica is the co-cathedral for the Diocese of Massa Marittima-Piombino.  The Romanesque church dates to the 13th Century.







All from Wikipedia.

 

Basilica of St. Pellegrino Laziosi, Forli, Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1977.

The Gothic and Baroque church is the burial place of St. Pellegrino Laziosi.  The church was built in the 13th Century but has been enlarged and renovated since then.  It was initially associated with a Servants of Mary convent.




From local sources.

 

Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation and St. Mark, Bedonia, Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul I in 1978. 

A small chapel was built here in 1600 by merchants in gratitude for their release from bandits.  The current neo-Byzantine church was built in the mid-20th Century.



From local sources.

 

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Mary, Carpi, Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1979. 

The basilica is the cathedral for the Diocese of Carpi.  The Baroque church was built in the 16th Century to replace an 8th Century church.



From a local source and Wikipedia.


 

Basilica of St. Biagio, Cento, Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1980.

 The church was built in the 18th Century to replace an earlier church.  The style is both Baroque and Renaissance.




From Wikipedia.

 

Cathedral Basilica of St. Cassian Martyr, Imola, Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1981. 

The basilica is the cathedral for the Diocese of Imola.  The Baroque church was built in the 18th Century to replace a 13th Century cathedral.  Three popes retained the title of Bishop of Imola even after being elected to the papacy.

 



From local sources.