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This church was built by Cardinal Barbarigo, who was Bishop of Montefiascone between the years 1687 and 1706 and supported the reconstruction of the seminary where an old church used to be located.
Info: Seminario Marco Antonio Barbarigo (0761/325629)
CHURCH OF SAN BARTOLOMEO
HISTORY
This church was built by Cardinal Barbarigo, who was Bishop of Montefiascone between the years 1687 and 1706 and supported the reconstruction of the seminary where an old church used to be located. This church was dedicated to Saint Bartolomeo. The ancient church was a parish until 1666 when Cardinal Paluzzo Altieri degli Albertoni declared the church was no longer to be used as a parish when Santa Margherita took its place and the structure took a sole use as a seminary. After the original structure was completely demolished, the construction of a new church began November 22, 1693 and continued for three years until it’s completion in 1696. On September 21st of that year, the same Cardinal Barbarigo consecrated this new church.
DESCRIPTION
The structure of this façade faintly reflects traits of a typical seventeenth-century building. The lower portions of the pilasters are each topped with a flattened capital. The above portion displays protruding frames, windows, and classic triangular pediments. The interior of the church contains a single nave and two cenotaphs on either side of the entrance dedicated to the Cardinals Barbarigo and Gazola. Following these are two altars placed in arches mounted on the wall, the one on the right depicting the Virgin with child along with the saints, while the one on the left depicts The guardian angel. Look at the presbytery, which is slightly raised and framed by a large arch; the structure is supported by two columns with Corinthian capitals. On the main altar, which is made of gilded and painted wood, sits a gilded wooden tabernacle of the eighteenth century. The large altarpiece illustrates the story of San Bartolomeo’s martyrdom and the ceiling of the chancel displays The glory of the Saint. The architecture and decoration of the church interior coincide with the motifs of typical seventeenth century buildings.
Chiesa di San Bartolomeo
Translation by Isabella Lazzareschi, Calpoly University, enrolled in the USAC Viterbo program.
ESSENTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
L. Salotti – L. Codini, Montefiascone nella storia e nell’arte, Grotte di Castro 1909.
I. Faldi, Pittori viterbesi di cinque secoli, Viterbo 1970.