Sarzana Cathedral: A Romanesque-Gothic Masterpiece

The Sarzana Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, stands as a testament to the rich history and artistic evolution of the region. Built on the site of the former Pieve di San Basilio, its construction spanned from 1204 to 1474, resulting in a captivating fusion of Romanesque and Gothic architectural elements. The cathedral's white marble facade features a portal adorned with a small Gothic rose window, flanked by 17th-century side blocks. To the south rises the battlemented campanile, the sole remnant of the ancient Pieve di San Basilio. The interior follows a Latin cross plan, with a nave divided into three aisles by arcades of polygonal columns supporting high arches. The central nave culminates in the choir and apse, while the side aisles each end in a chapel, all crowned by cupolas. The wooden panelled ceiling, carved by Pietro Giambelli between 1662 and 1670, adds to the cathedral's artistic richness. Sarzana Cathedral is renowned for housing significant religious relics, including a relic of St. Andrew and the Blood of Christ, preserved in the Chapel of the Most Precious Blood. The cathedral's most prized possession is the Cross of Maestro Guglielmo, dated 1138, the oldest known painted Italian crucifix and a pivotal work of Romanesque painting. This crucifix exemplifies the Christus triumphans iconography, predating the more familiar Christus patiens representation. Other notable artworks include Renaissance sculptures, a terracotta from the school of Luca Della Robbia, and marble busts of Popes Clement XI and Innocent XI by Giovanni Baratta. The apse showcases a Baroque scenography reminiscent of Bernini, featuring a Glory of the Virgin beneath an elaborate cupola.