Who designed the Basilica of Sant'Andrea in Mantua?
Leon Battista Alberti designed the Basilica of Sant'Andrea, which Ludovico III Gonzaga commissioned. Construction began in 1472 and continued for 328 years before the church was finished.
Questions about Basilica of Sant'Andrea, Mantua
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When was the Basilica of Sant'Andrea in Mantua built?
Construction of the Basilica of Sant'Andrea began in 1472 and was not completed until 328 years later. The nave was largely finished by 1494, the lateral arms and crypt were added in 1597, and Filippo Juvarra's dome was built between 1732 and 1782.
What relic is kept at the Basilica of Sant'Andrea in Mantua?
The Basilica of Sant'Andrea houses a relic called the Preziosissimo Sangue di Cristo, or Most Precious Blood of Christ, preserved in Sacred Vessels. Tradition holds that the Roman centurion Longinus first brought the blood to Mantua after scooping up blood-soaked earth from the foot of the cross.
Why was the Basilica of Sant'Andrea in Mantua built?
The church was built to receive pilgrims who came for the feast of the Ascension, when the relic of Christ's blood is carried up from the crypt through a hole in the floor beneath the dome. The site had previously held a Benedictine monastery, whose 1414 bell tower still stands next to the church.
Who is buried in the Basilica of Sant'Andrea in Mantua?
Federico I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua, is buried inside the Basilica of Sant'Andrea. The church also holds the tomb of the painter Andrea Mantegna in a chapel that bears his name, marked by a bronze figure made by Gianmarco Cavalli.
How was the Holy Blood relic at the Basilica of Sant'Andrea authenticated?
The Holy Roman emperor Charlemagne obtained authentication of the relic from Pope Leo III in 804. After the relic was rediscovered around 1049 in the presence of Matilda of Tuscany, Pope Leo IX recognized it as authentic again in 1053.