Menu :

Histoire

Personnages

Nature

Itinéraires par région

Built between 1636 and 1666, the church of Saint John the Baptist is the largest in Corsica and one of the most richly decorated.The facade, featuring two bell towers, dates back to 1864.

Saint John the Baptist (classified as a historic monument in 2000) is the biggest church in Corsica. The present structure was built from 1636 to 1666 on the location of a chapel. In 1864, the architect Paul-Augustin Viale, a native of Bastia, completed the façade of the church. During that period, the triangular fronton and the bell-tower on the right were built. The bell-tower on the left had been built as early as 1810 by the Swiss master-mason Tomaso Quadri. The inner decoration is rich. What is to be noticed is the marble main altar, ordered in Genoa in 1693 to the sculptor whose origins were from Marseilles Honoré Pellé. To the left of the main altar, stands the Episcopal throne of Monsignor Matteo Guasco, a native of Bastia, and the last bishop of Sagone (who had resided in Calvi until the Revolution). The pulpit is the most precious to be found in Corsica. It is made of white marble with inlaid mottled stones from Sicily, Sienna yellow, and Polcevera green. Ordered to Genoa in 1779, carved by the sculptors Gaetano and Gina Andrea Torre (father and son). It was sent disassembled and in a box, then installed in 1781.The organ loft is exceptional. Built in 1742 by the master carpenter Giovan Battista Terrigo - a native of Bastia- its surprising shapes, bold curves and impressive size call to mind the stern of a galleon of the baroque era. The lateral altars are decorated with pictures from various - especially Genoese schools, (Domenico Piola, Giovanni Raffaele Badaracco, Lorenzo De Ferrari).

Bastia

GRITACCESS:

Contact :