Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta

Having established that the church of Cambray-Digny had become too small to accommodate the ever-increasing number of faithful who came to the city to “pass the waters”, in 1957 work began on the construction of a new, larger church, which was still erected in Piazza del Popolo but in a more rearward position compared to the old church, towards the south.

The new building was built according to a design, winner of a national competition, by the architect Raffaello Fagnoni who availed himself of the collaboration of the architects Mario Negri, Pier Luigi Spadolini, Alfonso Stocchetti, all from Florence.

The new church, still dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, is an octagonal-based building, with four side chapels and the presbytery, whose construction characteristics ensure excellent natural lighting in the closed space. The decorations, the religious images, the stained glass windows are in keeping with the 1950s style of the architecture, as is the case for the reinforced concrete bell tower.

Among the artistic works included in the church are the metal crucifix by Sauro Cavallini, the stained glass windows and mosaics by Giorgio Scalco and the chandeliers by Carmelo Pucci.

The church of Santa Maria Assunta was proclaimed a minor basilica in 1988 by Pope John Paul II.

To learn more: http://www.basilicasantamariaassunta.it/uploads/2/5/9/4/25943283/a5-basilica_montec.pdf

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