Italy—Emilia Romagna and Tuscany—2

Basilica of St. Paulinus, Lucca, Tuscany

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

A church was here at least in the 8^th Century. This current Renaissance church dates to the 11^th Century and honors St. Paulinus of Antioch.

Pictures are from Alamy and Wikipedia.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Justina and St. Mary of the Assumption, Piacenza, Emilia Romagna

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

The basilica is the cathedral for the Diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio. The Romanesque church was built between 1122 and 1233.

Pictures are from Dreamstime and Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Antoninus, Piacenza, Emilia Romagna

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

The basilica was built in the 4^th Century in a Romanesque style and is dedicated to St. Antonino. The church, which once served as the cathedral for the Diocese of Piacenza has been expanded and renovated over the years and now includes Baroque and Gothic elements.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Savino, Piacenza, Emilia Romagna

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

The church was established as a Benedictine monastery in 903 and is dedicated to the city’s second bishop. Renovations over the centuries have resulted in Baroque elements replacing the original Romanesque elements.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, Placenza, Emilia Romagna

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

A church has been at this site since the 10^th Century, but this church was built in the 16^th Century.

Pictures are from Alamy and a local source.

Basilica of St. Peter, San Piero a Grado, Tuscany

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

This Romanesque church was built between the 10^th and 12^th Centuries, and it replaced an earlier church. It is believed to be on the site where St. Peter landed in Italy (at an ancient port) from the Holy Land in 44 AD. A 15^th Century ciborium marks the spot where St. Peter prayed in Italy for the first time.

The first picture is from Pinterest and the others from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Annunciation of Mary, Florence, Tuscany

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius VII in 1806.

The basilica is the Mother Church of the Servite Order who built it in the mid-13^th Century. It was initially Renaissance, but Baroque elements were later added. Legend has it that Bartolomeo began work on a painting of Our Lady but fell asleep after despairing that he could not paint her face well enough to show her beauty. When he awoke, the painting was completed—work Bartolomeo attributed to an angel. The portrait hangs in the church.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of Grace, Montenero, Tuscany

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius VII in 1818.

A shepherd found a Madonna in 1345, and a church was built here in 1603. The church was replaced by the current church in 1957. The church has more than 14,000 votive offerings.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption or Mary, Parma, Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Gregory XVI in 1834.

The basilica is the cathedral for the Diocese of Parma. The Romanesque church was built in the early 12^th Century to replace an earlier church. There are several 16^th Century frescoes by Antonio da Correggio.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Dominic, Bologna, Emilia Romagna

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII in 1884.

St. Dominic (1170-1221) moved to Bologna in 1218. He died in 1221 and is buried in this church. His burial shrine was designed by several artists, including Michelangelo. Originally buried in a small church, the Dominicans expanded the building in the mid-13^th Century to its current appearance. This church became the prototype for other Dominican churches. A teen-aged Mozart played the pipe organ in the Rosary Chapel. The basilica has several works of art.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Italy—Emilia Romagna and Tuscany—1

Collegiate Basilica of St. Mary Major, Bologna, Emilia Romagna

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

A church has been here since the 6^th Century, but the current church dates to the 11^th Century. The church was renovated in the 15^th and 17^th Centuries. It was deconsecrated for a large portion of the 19^th Century before once again becoming a parish church.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Petronius, Bologna, Emilia Romagna

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

Dedicated to a 5^th Century bishop, construction began on this church in 1390 and is ongoing. There are 22 side chapels. The church has two interesting features. One is a meridian line used for astronomical measurements that were fairly precise for that time. The church also has a fresco depicting the Prophet Mohammed being tortured in Hell. Islamist terrorists have threatened to destroy the basilica on more than one occasion.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Stephen, Bologna, Emilia Romagna

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

The basilica is a complex of buildings beginning with a church built by St. Petronius in the 5^th Century to commemorate the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The complex also includes a 4^th Century church dedicated to the first martyrs in Bologna—Vitale and Agricola.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Cesena, Emilia Romagna

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

The basilica is an abbey church. The abbey was originally built in the early 11^th Century. It has been suppressed several times by hostile forces but is active today.

The first two pictures are from local sources, the third is from TripAdvisor, and the last is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. John, Florence, Tuscany

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

The Baptistery of St. John the Baptist sits in front of Florence’s cathedral. Its origins are murky, but scholars today believe it dates to either the 11^th or 12^th Century. It is one of the most famous buildings in Florence and is mentioned in Dante’s Divine Comedy. Dante was baptized here.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Holy Spirit, Florence, Tuscany

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

The Augustinians built this Renaissance church in the 15^th Century to replace an earlier church. The church has a painting by Botticini and a crucifix by Michelangelo.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Minias on the Mountain, Florence, Tuscany

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

This Romanesque church was constructed in the 11^th Century to replace an 8^th Century chapel dedicated to a Roman martyr. Originally Benedictine, the church is now owned by the Olivetan monks. The cemetery has the graves of several prominent people including Carlo Collodi, the creator of Pinocchio, and firm director Franco Zeffirelli.

The top picture is from a local source, and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Lawrence, Florence, Tuscany

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

A church has been here since the 4^th Century and for 300 years, one of these churches served as the cathedral for Florence. The current church was built by the Medici family in the 15^th Century. The Renaissance building has tombs of many of the Medici family members. The church has works of art by Michelangelo and Donatello.