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The Abbey of Saint Andrew

This text was written by the MA student Luana Moraes Costa.

The Basilica of Saint Andrew was founded between 1219 and 1227 on the initiative of Cardinal Guala Bicchieri, who had just returned from England where he had served as papal legate. Bicchieri received perpetual rights to the income of St. Andrew’s Church in Chesterton, near Cambridge, from King Henry III. With this financial support, he brought Augustinian canons from Saint-Victor in Paris to oversee the construction of the new abbey and pilgrim hospital along the Via Francigena, with the hospital’s construction commencing in 1224.

The Basilica of Saint Andrew. Photo: Carlo Dell’Orto, 2013. From Wikimedia Commons.

The French influence on the basilica’s construction was significant, particularly regarding the introduction of Gothic elements. Although the architect remains unknown, it is presumed that the Gothic lines of the new edifice were introduced by French clerics, including Abbot Thomas Gallus, previously a professor at the University of Paris.

Inside of the Basilica of Saint Andrew in Vercelli. Photo: Luana Moraes Costa, 2024.

The cloister of the basilica, built in the 13th century and later remodeled during the transition from the Vittorini to the Lateran canons, remains a crucial element of the monastery’s architecture.

Cloister of Saint Andrew’s Abbey in Vercelli. Photo: Luana Moraes Costa, 2024.

Inspired by Cistercian models, the presence of both Gothic and Romanesque influences in the basilica connects it to the architectural traditions of northern Italy and suggests the involvement of an Italian master in the design. The fusion of these architectural styles gives the basilica a unique identity and reflects the cultural and artistic exchanges that were prevalent during the construction period. 

Inside of the Basilica of Saint Andrew in Vercelli. Photo: Luana Moraes Costa, 2024.

Vercelli played a very important role as a geopolitical crossroads during the construction of Saint Andrew’s Abbey. Situated along the Via Francigena, a major pilgrimage route connecting Canterbury to Rome, the city served as a meeting point for travelers, traders, and pilgrims from diverse backgrounds and cultures. This context of cultural exchange and interaction certainly influenced the basilica’s development and its significance as an architectural and religious landmark in the region.

Bibliography:

  • Italia.it. Basilica di Sant’Andrea. <https://www.italia.it/it/piemonte/vercelli/la-basilica-di-sant-adrea>
  • Sant’Andrea Verccelli Official Website. <https://santandreavercelli.com>
  • S. Baiocco, S. Castronovo, E. Pagella, Arte in Piemonte. Il Gotico, 2004, Priuli e Verlucca Editori, Ivrea, ISBN 88-8068-225-3.
  • G. Vergani, “L’Italia settentrionale. Le contaminazioni del Gotico”, in La Storia dell’Arte, Vol 5, cap. 13, 2006, Electa and La Biblioteca di Repubblica, Milan.
  • M. Cappellino, Il coro ligneo della basilica di S. Andrea. Agiografia Canonicale in un codice vercellese, 1989, Vercelli.

A Walk Through the Castello Visconteo: Part 1 – A Quick Look Inside The Courtyard

Let us step inside the walls of Visconti Castle, at the heart of Pavia, a must-visit castle if you ever visit this small town. Not to be mistaken with other castles with the same name, Castello Visconteo di Pavia is only 50 minutes away from Milan by train. Our little series, Walk Through the Castello Visconteo aims to give you a glimpse of the castle and the museums (Musei Civici di Pavia), where the history breathes through every stone and fresco. Built between 1360 and 1365 under the rule of Galeazzo II Visconti, the castle stands as an example of Lombardia’s late Gothic architecture. Although the northern wing of the castle was lost during the Italian War of 1521-1526 under attack by France, today the majority of the castle remains intact and still as captivating as it was first built.

Once you step into the castle, you get to explore not only the castle itself but also the museums it is housing. With our blog series, we will take you on a swift tour of the castle and these museums. We will start with the rooms that successfully preserved some unique frescoes from the periods of two ruling families of Milan: Sforza (1450-1535) and Visconti (1277-1447).

Despite the castle’s partial destruction, the remaining structure still reflects the artistic and architectural brilliance of its era. Visitors can explore the courtyard, the portico, and the loggia with a modest entry fee of 1 euro, while the castle’s rooms house museum collections are accessible with a Civic Museums ticket, which costs 10 euros, or even as cheap as 5 euros on some festive days.

A Glimpse of the Courtyard

Standing in the courtyard, one cannot help but notice the harmonious yet distinct look of the architectural complex. Originally designed as a square structure approximately 150 meters on each side, complete with four corner towers, the castle’s perfection was slightly spoiled by the destruction of the northern wing. Yet, this does not change the majestic atmosphere that fills the space.

Built swiftly after Galeazzo II Visconti’s conquest of Pavia in 1359, the castle was ready for decoration by 1366, when Galeazzo II sought the finest painters of the time to adorn its walls. Today, visitors can still admire the surviving frescoes and sinopias that speak of its grand past.

“The lunette preserves fragments of an almost illegible frescoed composition, which was part of a narrative cycle dedicated to the exploits of Galeazzo II Visconti, the lord who, after conquering Pavia in November 1359, had the castle built as the residence of the Visconti court and adorned it by calling the best painters active in northern Italy.
This cycle occupied the sections of the walls of the lunettes under each arch, probably without interruption, as demonstrated by the presence of the fragment found under the impost of the sub-arch near the passage from the west ravelin…. Along the edges of the lunettes and the ribs in the vaults, there are still geometric decorations here and there – with cosmatesque stars, polylobed frames, and vegetal elements – sometimes resulting from early 20th-century restorations presumably based on pre-existing models.

– Description Label of the Fresco, in Castello Visconteo

Throughout your walk, pay close attention to the details that offer insights into the daily life and history of the castle:

Inscriptions:

Painted above some doors, these inscriptions indicated the function of the rooms within.

• • •

StonecuttersMarks:

Engraved into the stones used for columns and other structures, these marks reveal the craftsmanship behind the castle’s construction.

• • •

Graffiti:

Spanning from the 16th century to the 19th century, when the castle served as a barracks, these markings provide a personal glimpse into the lives of those who once inhabited this space.

• • •

The Castello Visconteo of Pavia is more than just an architectural marvel; it is a living museum that encapsulates centuries of history, art, and culture. As you wander through its halls and courtyards, you are not merely observing relics of the past, but engaging with the stories and legacies that have shaped this magnificent structure. Enjoy your journey through time and let the echoes of the past enrich your understanding of the present.


We hope that our introduction to the Castello Visconteo was enough to grab your attention! Please stay tuned for Part 2!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Black, Jane. Absolutism in Renaissance Milan Plenitude of Power under the Visconti and the Sforza, 1329-1535 Jane Black. 1st ed., Oxford Univ. Press, 2010.

“Il Castello.” Il Castello – Musei Civici Di Pavia, museicivici.comune.pv.it/site/home/il-castello.html. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Milano, Archivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana, Cod. Triv. 1390, fol. 3r

Ponzi, Marco. “Mythical Origins of the Visconti Coat of Arms.” Medium, ViridisGreen, 28 Apr. 2024, medium.com/viridisgreen/mythical-origins-of-the-visconti-coat-of-arms-e98778ed2671.

“Sito Ufficiale Castello Sforzesco: L’edificio.” Sito Ufficiale Castello Sforzesco | L’edificio, www.milanocastello.it/en/edificio-voci. Accessed 6 May 2024.