Erected 1600s for the Girolamini monks by Pietro Fiorini in late mannerist style. After their suppression from 1797 the monks fled and eventually the church fell into a state of disrepair. In recent times it was used as a garage and warehouse but it’s now about to get a big face lift. Social and cultural facilities are planned here for 2012.

Chiesa di San Barbaziano Photos

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About Chiesa di San Barbaziano

This Church building on the corner of Via Cesare Battista was designed by the architect Pietro Fiorini. It was built between 1608-1618 for the Girolamini monks. They were also resident in the annexed convent of the church.

Inside is typical of the late mannerist style which developed out of Rome in the 16th century and shown here by a unique nave and four lateral chapels facing eachother.

In 1797 the convent was suppressed according to Naploenic laws. A few years later in 1806 the church suffered the same fate with drastic consequences for most of the valuables inside. The French army stripped the church of art work inculding its most precious which was a grand oil painting by Giacomo Francia hanging above the altar.

The church is barely recognizable now of course. It was not used for many years. In quite recent times however, it was a garage for vehicles and then a warehouse. After so many years of neglect and deterioration the building is about to get a real face lift because the Emilia Romagna government has begun a four year initiative to transform it back to its past glory.

The future of this ex-church will include social and cultural facilities and perhaps illustrate some of the stolen art that once decorated these crumbling, bare walls.