Sarsina Cathedral ( it, Duomo di Sarsina; Basilica Concattedrale di Santa Maria Annunziata) is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denomination ...

in Sarsina, a municipality in the province of Forlì-Cesena, region of

Emilia-Romagna egl, Emigliàn (man) egl, Emiglièna (woman) rgn, Rumagnòl (man) rgn, Rumagnòla (woman) it, Emiliano (man) it, Emiliana (woman) or it, Romagnolo (man) it, Romagnola (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title ...

, Italy, dedicated to the

Annunciation of the Virgin Mary The Annunciation (from Latin '), also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of Our Lady, or the Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the biblical tale of the announcement by the ange ...

. Formerly the seat of the Bishops of Sarsina, since 1986 it has been a co-cathedral of the Diocese of Cesena-Sarsina.

History

This church likely dates to the 10th century, when a Romanesque structure in brick was begun. The lunette above the entrance portal has a modern mosaic depicting

Saint Vicinius Saint Vicinius or Saint Vicinius of Sarsina ( it, San Vicinio di Sarsina; died 330) was the first bishop of Sarsina and is venerated as a Roman Catholic saint. Hagiography Vicinius's life is based on notes in an anonymous manuscript lectionary o ...

wearing a bishop's mitre and holding a chain. The façade remains unfinished. The interior nave is generally austere. Chapels added to the lateral aisles, include a chapel (1693) dedicated to the ''Virgin of the Rosary'' with a 17th-century altarpiece with 14 small paintings depicting the ''Mysteries of the Rosary''. On the left nave is also the chapel of the Sacrament (1555), with a Renaissance-style altar. The presbytery held entrance to a crypt. The main altar has a 10th-century bas-relief depicting ''Christ enthroned with St Gabriel and St Michael''. Among the paintings here are a ''Visitation'' by Michele Valbonesi; and ''Annuciation'' (18th century) by

Mattia de Mare Mattia is an Italian given name for males and, less frequently, females. Also a surname, it may refer to: Given name * Mattia Altobelli (born 1983), professional Italian footballer *Mattia Battistini (1856–1928), Italian operatic baritone *Matt ...

; and finally an 18th-century ''Madonna and Child with Santa Lucia and the Souls of Purgatory'' by unknown hands. Near the apse is a canvas depicting the ''Mass of San Gregorio Magno'' attributed to Carlo Cignani. Opening to the nave on the right is the chapel of San Vicinio with elaborate stucco decoration patronized by the bishop Paolo Calbetti in 1755. The altar houses the relics of the saint, while the chains are in the tabernacle. The altarpiece is a ''Madonna and Child with San Vicinio Crowned'' by

Ippolito Scarsella Scarsellino or Ippolito Scarsella (1550 (or 1551) – 28 October 1620) was an Italian mid-to-late sixteenth century reformist painter and one of the most important representatives of the School of Ferrara. His landscapes of both sacred and secu ...

, also called il Scarsellino. Michele Valbonesi painted four votive canvases depicting ''Miracles of San Vicinio'' along the walls.Basilica di San Vicinio
official site, entry on Basilica.

Notes

References

{{coord, 43.9188, 12.1437, type:landmark_region:IT, display=title Roman Catholic cathedrals in Italy Churches in the province of Forlì-Cesena 10th-century churches in Italy Romanesque architecture in Emilia-Romagna Cathedrals in Emilia-Romagna