The best city hikes and walks in Piacenza

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The first foundation of the church dates back, in all likelihood, to the mid-9th century. In 1140 the entire village of Santa Brigida was the victim of a violent fire in which it is assumed that the temple was also destroyed, consequently rebuilt. Here in 1185 the Peace of Constance, already preliminarily discussed in S. Antonio, was ratified by the Lombard League. The current temple was restored by Giannantonio Perrau (1899) who returned it to its original Romanesque features. The interior, without a transept, has three naves, closed by apses. Worthy of mention is the chapel of the Crucifix (right nave), so called because of the suggestive wooden simulacrum (13th century) that it houses. It is decorated with frescoes by Roberto de Longe, a Flemish painter by origin, but active in Piacenza since 1685, who depicts the Ascension in the dome and the Sibyls in the pendentives. On the walls of the church you can see a painting by Felice Boselli from Piacenza (1650-1732) representing the Ecce Homo and a St. Andrew led to martyrdom, a notable work by Camillo Gavasetti (1628). (c) https://scopripiacenza.it/it/luoghi/chiese-e-santuari-piacenza-la-citta-chiesa-di-santa-brigida

Built between 1278 and 1363 by the Ghibelline Umbertino Landi, the church of San Francesco is in Lombard Gothic style with a terracotta façade. The Friars Minor were commissioned to carry out the work and quickly built the church and adjoining monastery. Over the centuries, the church was enriched with works of art and the convent reached considerable dimensions. The most important historical event connected to the church was, in 1848, the proclamation, which took place here with a plebiscite, of the annexation of Piacenza to the Kingdom of Sardinia. The church preserves inside the tombs of illustrious men, paintings, sculptures and remains of frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries. Note the sculpture placed in the lunette of the portal, with the Stigmata of San Francesco (around 1480). The dome of the chapel of the Immaculate Conception is frescoed by Giovanni Battista Trotti, known as “Il Malosso” (1600). Also worthy of note is the stucco sculpture group created by Reti in the 17th century and depicting the Deposition. Other artists present are Bernardo Castello, Giuseppe Nuvolone and Benedetto Marini. In front of the church of San Francesco, the so-called “Dado” develops in height, the building that incorporates the architectural structures of the ancient medieval Torrazzo communal tower. (c) https://scopripiacenza.it/it/luoghi/chiese-e-santuari-piacenza-la-citta-piazza-cavalli-chiesa-di-san-francesco

The 16th-century Santa Maria di Campagna , built in the Renaissance style, has beautiful frescoes by Pordenone and Bernardino Gatti, who decorated the dome with colorful paintings. The church also features a statue of Ranuccio Farnese, Duke of Piacenza, from 1616 by the sculptor Francesco Mochi, who also created the equestrian statues in Piazza Cavalli.

Known as "il Gotico" to those who live in Piacenza, due to the presence of pointed arches typical of Gothic architecture, this historic building in the city center hosted the poet Francesco Petrarca in 1351. Today it opens to the public only on the occasion of events or temporary exhibitions.

Piacenza Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Piacenza) is a Roman Catholic church in Piacenza (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) dedicated to Saint Justina of Padua and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Saint Justina is also the patron saint of the city. The cathedral is located in the city center, on Piazza Duomo. The church is the seat of the Diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio.

Piacenza is a city full of beautiful squares, all lively and crowded. On this square are the cathedral and the bishop's palace.

Inside the church, it is worth paying attention to the frescoes by Gavasetti and Robert de Longe. Interestingly, some of them were transferred to the Municipal Gallery in Piacenza.