Barga 2 Duomo di San Cristoforo

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Barga
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Duomo di San Cristoforo
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Barga is part of hidden Tuscany, a town with a
view of the Apuan Alps in a region known as the
Garfagnana, north of the town of Lucca. Barga is
a medieval town ( about 6000 inhabitants) of
Longobard origin but with a definite Florentine
flavor. The town lies on a  hilltop  (elevation
410m, 1370 ft.) in the valley of the river
Serchio, also known as Garfagnana. The region is
famous for its Farro grain, the food of the
ancient Roman legions. This is the only part of
Tuscany featuring high mountains where eagles and
other birds of prey still soar.  
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Ther are seven ancient churches within or just
outside the town walls including the majestic
Duomo begun before the year 1000, which features
art work by the incomparable medieval
painter/sculpturer Andrea Della Robbia, and a
splendid pulpit attributed to the sculptor Guido
Bigiarelli da Como. The cobblestone paved square
(Arringo) in front of the Duomo is the best
vantage point for viewing breathtaking sunsets.
The churchs of Barga are particularly interesting
to visit during the two feast of the town's two
patron Saints S. Cristoforo (July 25) and S.
Rocco (August 16) when they are decked with
flowers and other decorations.
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Duomo dedicato a San Cristoforo (cathedral)
(11th-16th centuries), the main example of
Romanesque architecture in the Serchio Valley. Of
the original church, built in local limestone,
parts of the façade remain. The interior has a
nave and two aisles. It houses a large (3.5 m)
wooden statue of St. Christopher, patron of the
city.
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The Cathedral of Barga, dedicated to Saint
Christopher, is located on the top of a hill that
dominates most of the Serchio valley with the
Appennine mountains behind it and the majestic
Apuan chain of mountains in front
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The primitive construction dates back to before
the year 1.000 and further modifications took
place centuries after until its completion
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On the side door facing north there is a splendid
architrave decorated with a bas-relief attributed
to the Lucca artist, Biduino (12th c.)
Chiesa di San Salvatore, Lucca architrave by
Biduino
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The main entrance of the cathedral features an
overhanging arch carved with acanthus leaves. The
architrave is embellished with a bas-relief,
depicting a grape harvest.
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The main entrance of the cathedral Lions
symbolizing the strength of the faith stand atop
each of the two columns flanking the entrance
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The facade is also adorned by a double row of
small arches carved with human figures, animals,
and other decorations.
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Stepping into the dim interior the nave is a big
open space, broad and long, paved in warm,
rose-brown marble,  with square pillars on each
side supporting graceful arches above.
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The interior has a nave and two aisles. It houses
a large (3.5 m) wooden statue of St. Christopher,
patron of the city.
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The choir area is situated behind the altar.
Above it is the niche holding the large wooden
statue of St. Christopher, patron saint of Barga.
The statue is believed to have been carved around
the year 1000. Above it is an oval glass window
from the 14th century showing the Holy Family
similar in design to that in the Convent of Saint
Elizabeth in Barga and attributed to Lorenzo di
Credi.
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Main Altar
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Il fonte battesimale
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On each sides of the choir box are two chapels.
The Holy Sacrament Chapel is on the left having
at the centre of the Baroque altar a lovely
painting by an unknown artist which besides
depicting St. Joseph, St. Rocco and St. Anthony,
shows Barga as it was in the 16th Century with
its cathedral bell tower and battlements.
Inserted in the painting there is a 13th Century
painted panel representing the Madonna del Mulino
(Our Lady of the Mill), also by an unknown
artist. This painting was commissioned in 1527 by
the people of Barga during a severe epidemic of
cholera and has been carefully restored after
being found badly neglected in the nearby Church
of San Francesco.
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On the wall above, next to the fresco depictung
Santa Lucia, is a painting of St. Christopher,
patron saint of Barga,attributed to the painter
Lucchese Tofanelli (17th century).
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Santa Lucia
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Holy water stoups
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Holy water stoups
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crucifix made in the Giottoesque style by The
Master of Barga
Madonna con Bambino fra San Sebastiano e San
Rocco (attribuita alla Bottega del Buglione
1527-1528)
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Tabernacolo Adorazione del Bambino attribuited
to Andrea della Robbia (1490-1495)
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Ciborio degli Olii Santi attribuited to Andrea
della Robbia (1490-1495)
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The inside of the church is composed of a nave
and two aisles supported by pillars and is
divided into two parts by large decorated
balustrades Pluteus (The dividing wall) In
architecture pluteus mean a massive balustrade
with rectangular plates
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The church has a dividing wall made of shining
stone known as jasper, the same stone used to
cover the walls of the Cappella dei Principi, in
the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence.
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Pluteo details
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Pluteo details
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Next to the right-hand pluteus, theres the
famous pulpit dating back to the second half of
the 12th century attributed to Guido Bigarelli,
known as Guido da Como
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The 13th Century marble pulpit is attributed to
the Como school of Guido Bigarelli, and is the
most precious work of art inside the Duomo.
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The symbolism of its sculpted figures is quite
complex
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In the section on the right is the figure of the
prophet Isaiah. In the front there is a
representation of the Annunciation and the Birth
of Christ with an inscription in Latin which
explains the symbolism
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In the left section the Adoration of the Magi is
depicted, but is blocked by a group of figures
representing the four Evangelists. The human
figure represents Mathew, the lion, Mark, the ox,
Luke and the eagle, John
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The other human figure on the left has been
interpreted in different ways. Some identify it
as Joseph, others as Moses and others still, as
Aronne, the first priest chosen by God.
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The back side of the pulpit Il Battista
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Four marble columns hold up the rectangular case
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the two front columns rest on two marble lions,
one of which is attacking a man lying beneath its
mouth. A dwarf forms the base of another column
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The two lions at the base of the columns
symbolise the triumph of Christianity over evil
and heresy. The lion on the left has a serpent
(evil) between its legs and the one on the right
holds a man (heresy) who is stroking the lion
with one hand while stabbing it with the other.
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Text and pictures Internet Copyright All the
images belong to their authors Presentation
Sanda Foisoreanu
Sound Roberto Alagna Agnus Dei