Irsina Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Irsina Cathedral formerly Montepeloso Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral
dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, located in Irsina
in the region of Basilicata
, Italy
. Since 1977 it has been a co-cathedral
of the Archdiocese of Matera-Irsina, and was previously, from 1818, a co-cathedral of the Diocese of Gravina-Irsina. It was formerly the seat of the Diocese of Montepeloso.
The present building was constructed in the 13th century and remodelled in 1777. It has a Baroque
façade and a Gothic
campanile
. It contains a baptismal font
of red marble and a number of 18th century paintings of the Neapolitan School
.
The cathedral also contains a well-known marble statue of Saint Euphemia
. This has been attributed by some critics to Mantegna
, and was exhibited as his at Mantua in 2009. Others however, including Giovanni Agosti, curator of the Mantegna exhibition at the Louvre
, attribute it to Pietro Lombardo
. The discussion continues.
The festival of Saint Euphemia, patron of Irsina, takes place on 14–17 September. On 16 September the keys of the city are offered to the archbishop on the altar of the cathedral, and by him to Saint Euphemia. A long procession then takes place through the streets of the town carrying the statue of the saint, the reliquary
containing her arm and the icon of Our Lady of Divine Providence.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, located in Irsina
Irsina
Irsina is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.The economy is mostly based on agriculture, with the production of cereals and wine.- The Village of Irsina and the Surrounding Countryside :...
in the region of Basilicata
Basilicata
Basilicata , also known as Lucania, is a region in the south of Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Apulia to the north and east, and Calabria to the south, having one short southwestern coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea between Campania in the northwest and Calabria in the southwest, and a...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Since 1977 it has been a co-cathedral
Co-cathedral
A co-cathedral is a cathedral church which shares the function of being a bishop's seat, or cathedra, with another cathedral. Instances of this occurred in England before the Protestant Reformation in the dioceses of Bath and Wells, and of Coventry and Lichfield, hence the names of these dioceses...
of the Archdiocese of Matera-Irsina, and was previously, from 1818, a co-cathedral of the Diocese of Gravina-Irsina. It was formerly the seat of the Diocese of Montepeloso.
The present building was constructed in the 13th century and remodelled in 1777. It has a Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
façade and a Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
campanile
Campanile
Campanile is an Italian word meaning "bell tower" . The term applies to bell towers which are either part of a larger building or free-standing, although in American English, the latter meaning has become prevalent.The most famous campanile is probably the Leaning Tower of Pisa...
. It contains a baptismal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
of red marble and a number of 18th century paintings of the Neapolitan School
Neapolitan School
In music history, the Neapolitan School is a group, associated with opera, of 18th century composers who studied or worked in Naples, Italy. The best known of which is Alessandro Scarlatti, with whom, "modern opera begins"....
.
The cathedral also contains a well-known marble statue of Saint Euphemia
Saint Euphemia
The Great Martyr Euphemia , known as the All-praised in the Orthodox Church is a Christian saint, who was martyred for her faith at Chalcedon, c. 304-307 AD.-Hagiography:...
. This has been attributed by some critics to Mantegna
Andrea Mantegna
Andrea Mantegna was an Italian painter, a student of Roman archeology, and son in law of Jacopo Bellini. Like other artists of the time, Mantegna experimented with perspective, e.g., by lowering the horizon in order to create a sense of greater monumentality...
, and was exhibited as his at Mantua in 2009. Others however, including Giovanni Agosti, curator of the Mantegna exhibition at the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
, attribute it to Pietro Lombardo
Pietro Lombardo
Pietro Lombardo was an Italian Renaissance sculptor and architect; born in Carona , he was the father of Tullio Lombardo and Antonio Lombardo....
. The discussion continues.
The festival of Saint Euphemia, patron of Irsina, takes place on 14–17 September. On 16 September the keys of the city are offered to the archbishop on the altar of the cathedral, and by him to Saint Euphemia. A long procession then takes place through the streets of the town carrying the statue of the saint, the reliquary
Reliquary
A reliquary is a container for relics. These may be the physical remains of saints, such as bones, pieces of clothing, or some object associated with saints or other religious figures...
containing her arm and the icon of Our Lady of Divine Providence.