Pro-cathédrale Sainte-Marie de Bastia

Bastia

As early as 1496 the Bishop of Mariana, Mgr de Fornari, wished to make the young church of Sainte-Marie in Bastia his cathedral residence. Begun in 1489 on the promontory overlooking the cove of the harbour, it was then called Santa Maria della Consolazione, or del Soccorso. The diocese of Mariana, united with that of Accia in 1563, established its seat there in the second half of the 16th century, in 1570 according to the GCatholic directory, in 1590 according to the Monuments historiques entry; hence the name of pro-cathedral by which it is still known. At the beginning of the 17th century Bishop del Pozzo had it rebuilt from top to bottom and laid its foundation stone in 1604. The building work nearly came to nothing in 1611, when the vaults of the three aisles collapsed, threatening to bring down the whole building; work had to start again, and it was not until 17 July 1625 that Giulio del Pozzo consecrated the completed church, with its campanile of 1620 and the gilded stucco put up in 1621 by Francesco Marengo. The interior, with three aisles and four bays (five according to the Mérimée database), gleams with gold and marble in the Baroque taste. Seven bishops' hats, hung high up, recall the prelates who died in Bastia and were buried in the crypt. But the heart of the church lies elsewhere: in 1852 the people of Bastia gave their silverware so that the Sienese goldsmith Gaetano Macchi could fashion a silver Virgin of the Assumption. Every 15 August, surrounded by the confraternities and by singing, she is carried in procession through the streets of the Terra Nova. The organs are the work of the Serassi brothers, of Bergamo. The episcopal see, for its part, was suppressed in 1802 and attached to Ajaccio.

Wikipédia — Pro-cathédrale Sainte-Marie de Bastia ↗

Getting there : In the citadel (Terra Nova), rue de l'Évêché according to directories (address to be checked). Opening times and visiting conditions to be checked. The procession of the silver Virgin takes place every 15 August.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound