Built by the architect Cesare Bazzani and inaugurated 27th of October 1934. The Franciscan Brotherhood took control of it. Mussolini and his wife visited it under construction. Art work is limited but some interesting bronze sculptures by Publio Morbiducci. Some of the designs and decorations were inspired by the Masonic world and esoteric culture.

About Basilica di Sant’ Antonio da Padova

Basilica di Sant Antonio da Padova

At the far end of town looking straight down the whole of Predappio is the Basilica di Sant’ Antonio. The façade which is actually a mirror image of the internal plan of the church is adorned with rich marble and hosts bronze sculptures.

This bronze lunette portraying the saint was completed by Publio Morbiducci. The bell tower was taken as model for all the other bell towers from that period in this region.

The internal layout design consists of a Latin Cross with three naves. The lateral naves like this left hand side one finish in an alcove which are adorned with more marble images and even fascist symbolism.

            There are a few pieces of art work completed or donated by local people such as this one of the Resurrection by Magnani Egidio in 2003.

It follows this one located in a chapel in the transept. This canvas depicts the Sacred Heart by C Mezzana dating to 1936.

            The story of St Anthony of Padova is traced back to the 29th of July 1931. Benito Mussolini was in Predappio for the inauguration of the Hospital on the corner of the wide boulevard at the front of this church. During that period there was  an ecclesiastical crisis over the organization ‘Azione Cattolica’ and Mussolini sought a way to dilute the public tension that was created as a consequence.

This Lourdes Grotto on the opposite side is next to the main altar. It’s often left open for private worship when the main building is closed.

Mussolini managed the crisis with a public contest held to design a new church. The architect Cesare Bazzani won and was therefore commissioned to begin work immediately on plans for this building. He was widely recognized for his work which reflected typical styles and forms from the 1500s. Mussolini and his wife Rachele visited the building site several times and were said to have been quite satisfied that it was progressing quickly. It was eventually opened on the 27th of October 1934 and rented to the Franciscan Brotherhood.

The construction of the whole complex reflects three phases: the church, bell tower and the religious quarters of the parish church. Not so apparent is that Sant’ Antonio consists of decorative elements that suggest certain personal characteristics of Bazzani like designs of diamond, winding and curving shapes, and of course technical details where he has used whole numbers for dimensions. These details were in many cases inspired from the reading and cult surrounding the Masonic world and esoteric culture.

            Finally, just to the side of the basilica is this little monument dedicated to Padre Vittorino Liverani – the first parish priest of Predappio. It was unveiled on 5th  October 2003 and was probably executed by a former pupil of his.

References

Il Paese di Mussolini, storia architettura città, La Romagna Del Duce in cartolina, Forlì, 2003, p100.

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