Pietrasanta: Ancient Art
Melissa, immersed in the quiet grandiosity of Pietrasanta’s Duomo di San Martino
As you enter the town of Pietrasanta the first thing you will notice is the breath-taking Cathedral with the mountains providing a stunning backdrop. The Cathedral of San Martino was built directly after the foundation of Pietrasanta by the Lucchesi in 1255 and is housed in the long square, directly in front of the monumental church and convent of Sant’Agostino. The church, which was devoted to S. Martino started under the commander of Lucchesi, Dominion of Castruccio Castracane, who to some historians is considered to be the founder of the church.
The façade of the church is covered with white marble and is adore by a rose window. The splendid building has three aisles and over the portals are lunettes with scenes from the Life of Christ. The three astonishing doors are over hung by fanlights, representing bas-reliefs, the Crocefissione in the center, the Deposition on the left side and the Resurrezione on the right. On the left side on the church facing Garibaldi Street is another fanlight representative bas-relief S. Giovanni Battista. Situated above the center door is the coat of arms of Pope Leone X, done by XIV Florentine sculptor Donato Benti. The 16th century 35 meter tall bell tower is nestled to the left of the church and is made of modest brick work. It was originally to be covered in the same elegant marble as the main church. Some say that Michelangelo designed the geometrically perfect spiral staircase inside. The exterior of the Cathedral has a strong presence in the piazza feeling much like a guard protecting the town’s most precious art and history. The striking exterior is pale in comparison to the fine detail of the interior of the church.
As you enter through the door way you are immediately confronted with the complexity of the artwork on both the ceiling and the walls. Innate in every detail no space is left untouched. The artwork includes painters Matteo Rosselli, Francesco Curradi, Jacopo Vignali, Pietro Dandini, Bastiano Bitzzi, Jacopo Chiavistelli and Alessandro Cominotti, as well as sculptors Giovan Stagi, Stagio Stagi and Ferdinando Tacca. A three hundred year old wooden Crucifix, the statue in marble of the announced one (XIV sec.) and the painted Veneratissimo of Madonna del Sole are just some of the more ancient works of art. There are elegant archways along both the right and left sides held up by magnificent marble pillars and a curious marble staircase beautifully crafted. It is spiritually satisfying to be in the presence of such greatness. With so much astounding history and artwork it is a must see destination.