Genoa Cathedral

The San Lorenzo ( Saint Lawrence Cathedral ) Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Genoa and is located in the historic part of town near the Porto Antico, the tourist port of Genoa. It was consecrated in 1118 by Pope Gelasius II. With the construction of the medieval church was started around 1100. However, it was not completed until the late 15th century. Because of this epoch- cross design history has characteristics both of the Cathedral Romanesque as well as Gothic architecture.

History

The first cathedral of Genoa was probably built in the 5th or 6th century and dedicated to the then Bishop of San Siro. Excavations below the adjacent pavement and the square in front of today's front of Chiesa di San Siro brought Roman wall ruins and road facilities, as well as pre-Christian sarcophagi to light. Accordingly, an ancient graveyard was located on the base of the former cathedral with high probability found. The title of the Kathedralskirche was later handed over to the new St. Lawrence Cathedral. The construction of the Romanesque church building in 1100 was financed by the successful enterprises of the Genoese fleet in the Crusades.

The "relocation " of the Cathedral accelerated the urbanization of the city area, which was the construction of the city wall in 1155 and the merger of the old city cores castrum, civitas and Burgus the center of Genoa. The cathedral was consecrated in 1118 by Pope Gelasius II in 1133 and got the archiepiscopal rank. When fighting between the Guelphs and Ghibellines in 1296, the building was badly damaged by fire. Between 1307 and 1312 the façade was completed and restored the colonnades including galleries. The Romanesque structure of the Church had remained largely intact in the works.

In the period between the 14th and 15th centuries, numerous altars and chapels were attached. The small loggia on the northeastern tower was added in 1455. The opposite applied in the Mannerist style, contrast, dates from the year 1522. 1550 the architect Galeazzo Alessi was commissioned with the reconstruction of the cathedral, but stated only the roofing of the main and side aisle, the construction of the dome and the apse.

Construction of the cathedral marked the conclusion of until the 17th century. The dome and the medieval parts of the church were restored in 1894-1900.

Church paintings Received

• Unknown Byzantine painter ( 1300 ): frescoes on the inner arc of the main portal ( Christ with the Apostles at the Last Supper ) and on the inside of the left nave (Saint Peter and Saint George )
• Luca Cambiaso: frescoes on the vault of the chapel of the left aisle
• Barocci: Crucifix with Holy (Saint Sebastian )
• Gio Ansaldo: Ante organ construction with episodes from the life of Saint Lawrence '
• Lazzaro Tavarone: vault of the presbytery (direction and Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence )
• Lazzaro Tavarone: fresco from the demolished hospital Pammatone on the wall of the right aisle
• Gaetano Previati ( circa 1914 ): The Holy Virgin

Sculptures received

• Romanesque sculptures with recognizable Comoer influence, outside portal San Giovanni, 11th Century
• Romanesque sculptures with recognizable Pisan influence, outside portal San Gottardo, 12th century
• Gothic sculptures in the main portals, Christ with Saint Lawrence and Jesse tree in the goalposts
• Statues in the chapel of San Giovanni, works by Domenico and Matteo Gaggini Civitali
• Giacomo della Porta and Guglielmo, Chapel Giuliano Cybo

Organ

The history of the organ dates back to the year 1391st Over time there have been various organs. The present organ was built in 1932 commissioned and completed in 1936, with the existing material of the then existing organ was re-used. The instrument was extensively restored in the years 2002 to 2003 and extended. The instrument has 70 speaking stops ( and transmitted three registers in the pedal ) and an effect register on four manuals and pedal. The tracker action are mechanical.