* Name UNESCO
** UNESCO Geographical Classification change

The Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia, also known as Basilica Santa Maria Assunta, is the largest religious building in the town of Aquileia located in the province of Udine in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Spiritual center of the ancient Patriarchate of Aquileia , she played a key role in the evangelization of much of central Europe in early Middle Ages. Its oldest remains date back to the ^fourth century , the current basilica was built in the ^twelfth century , and restructured in the ^thirteenth century.

The Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia and the archaeological zone are included on the list of World Heritage of Humanity established by UNESCO in 1998.

Summary 1 Overview 2 The mosaics 3 The crypt frescoes 4 The choir 5 The crypt excavations 6 The campanile 7 See also 7.1 Internal Links 8 External links 9 Sources

Introduction

Following approval of the celebration of public worship by the Edict of Milan in 313 , she founded the same year in the urban center of Roman power of Aquileia , by Bishop Theodore.

Also close to the ancient river port Natiss (it) , it is built on pre-existing Roman structures, and is presented in a plane-shaped horseshoe consists of three main halls. By the ^mid-fourth century, the north room is enlarged (73 x 31 m). At the bishop of Aquileia Chromatius (it) ( 388 - 407 ) should be the expansion of the south hall up to 65 x 29 m with the construction of the existing facade and the construction of new buildings, including the The current baptistery. The great prosperity of successive years the Council of Aquileia is abruptly in 452 when the Huns , led by Attila devastated the city. The basilica north, burned during the looting, is not rebuilt. Only in ^the ninth century , the patriarch Massenzio, thanks to financial support from Charlemagne , began building the present structure on the foundations of the previous building. In 988 , an earthquake caused widespread damage, bringing the patriarch Poppon (it) to make, in 1031 , a reclassification of the complex influences inspired by Carolingian and Ottonian. Romanesque and cruciform plan , the basilica has a length of 65 meters and a width of 30 meters and a height of 23 meters. A transept of 43 meters and 9.5 meters wide through the three vessels divided by two rows of arcades. The vast architectural program Poppon also marks the economic revival of the city which culminated with the construction of large patriarchal palace (now defunct) and especially the imposing campanile up more than 70 meters. After another earthquake in 1348 , Archbishop Marquardo di Randeck (it) restores in its upper part in a Gothic style. The last major intervention dates back to the XV ^century , when Venetian craftsmen carpenters realized the great wooden ceiling that can still be seen today.

Mosaics

Discovered in 1909 , after the removal of clay liner placed in the eleventh ^century at the time of Poppon, the surprising polychrome mosaic floor, dating from the ^fourth century, in perfect condition, 37 out of 20 meters, refers to the decorative motifs depicting biblical scenes.

The crypt frescoes

To the east, below the apse popponienne the crypt of the ^sixth and ^seventh centuries to house the relics of the proto-martyrs aqueliens is adorned with a major fresco cycle XII ^century.

Chorus

Above the crypt, the frescoes of the vault of the apse, updates at the end of the ^nineteenth century , represents the Virgin and Child , saints and martyrs and Bishop Poppon. The marble pulpit of 1493 , is the work of Bernardino da Bissone (it) , while around 1498 , two other maestri Comacini , brothers Sebastian and Antonio da Osteno, realize the bas-reliefs of the altar dedicated to St. Virgin and the saints Ermagora e Fortunato (it)

The crypt excavations

It retains some of the mosaics, references Gnostics , a prestigious building of the ^first century that the Bishop Theodore was chosen as ^the fourth century as a site for erection of the basilica. Part of this mosaic was unfortunately lost during the construction of the campanile.

The tower

Since its construction in 1031 , it remained intact. Dominating the countryside Friuli top of its 73 meters, it is built in opus quadratum with stones salvaged from the Roman amphitheater nearby.

See also

Internal Links

• Archaeological area of Aquileia

External Links

• on

Sources

• Sheet Unesco
• (It) This article is partially or entirely from the article in Italian entitled " Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta (Aquileia) "(see the list of authors )