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| The
Duomo, The Aringo and The Avelli. |
During
one of the restoration periods between 1927-1939, a plaque was
mounted above the door leading to the bell tower, with the following
inscription by Giovanni Pascoli:
"AT
A TIME BEFORE THE YEAR 1000, WHEN THE PEOPLE OF BARGA WERE POOR
AND LIVING ON ROAST CHESTNUTS
THEY BUILT A DUOMO
SAYING:
IN MY HOUSE I HAVE TO JUMP FROM ONE BEAM TO ANOTHER - WHAT FREEDOM!
BUT THE DUOMO MUST BE GRAND, AND MUST HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MARBLE
PULPIT EVER SEEN
SAYING:
WHAT IS MINE IS SMALL, WHAT IS OURS IS GRAND!".
The
other important figures in this restoration were Monsignor Lino
Lombardi and Morando Stefani, the "Workman" of the Duomo
and Mayor of Barga.
As
soon as you have crossed the threshold you will be struck by the
huge 13th Century wooden statue of St. Christopher, the Christ Bearer,
who is the patron saint of Barga and of automobile drivers. The
cathedral is dedicatdd to him and from his niche of gold behind
the high altar in the central choir, he seems to be reassuring the
visitor that his strength is sufficient to calm the fears of all
those who place their trust in him.
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|
Wooden Statue of St. Christopher (13th Century) |
In
the chapel to the left, at the centre of the Baroque altar,
there is a lovely painting by an unknown artist, datable to
around 1500, which besides depicting St. Joseph, St. Rocco and
St. Anthony, shows Barga as it was in the 16th Century with
its cathedral bell tower and battlements. Inserted in the painting
there is a 13th Century painted panel representing the Madonna
del Mulino (Our Lady of the Mill), also by an unknown artist.
On the right hand walls of this chapel there is a 14th Century
panel painting of the suffering Christ. The artists is unknown
although Federico Zeri assigns it to a lesser known 'Barga Master'
who was under the influence of the Emilian school.
The
chapel on the right, known as the Santissimo Sacramento, is
richly decorated with works in the style of the della Robbia
brothers, but not always attributable to them. The unglazed
altar piece depicting the Mother and Child with St. Rocco and
St. Sebastian, is badly damaged from the time it was situated
outdoors in the cloister of the monastery of St. Francis. The
Child in fact is missing as are several figures on the predella
and there are obvious signs of extensive restoration. On the
side walls of this chapel two other works are displayed. On
the left is the Ciborium of the Holy Oil by Andrea della Robbia
and on the right is a small altar piece representing the Nativity.
The
13th Century marble pulpit is attributed to the Como school
of Guido Bigarelli, and is the most precious work of art inside
the Duomo. The symbolism of its sculpted figures is quite complex.
In the section on the right is the figure of the prophet Isaiah.
In the front there is a representation of the Annunciation and
the Birth of Christ with an inscription in Latin which explains
the symbolism. In the left section the Adoration of the Magi
is depicted, but is blocked by a group of figures representing
the four Evangelists. The human figure represents Mathew, the
lion, Mark, the ox, Luke and the eagle, John.
The
other human figure on the left has been interpreted in different
ways. Some identify it as Joseph, others as Moses and others
still, as Aronne, the first priest chosen by God. The two lions
at the base of the columns symbolise the triumph of Christianity
over evil and heresy. The lion on the left has a serpent (evil)
between its legs and the one on the right holds a man (heresy)
who is stroking the lion with one hand while stabbing it with
the other.
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|
The pulpit by the Como School (13th Century). |
Further
treasures to be found in the Duomo are several other Della Robbian
works, various paintings, stained glass windows and a large modern
organ. Indeed this is a place no-one can ignore who sets foot in
this historic town, a town which for its history, its art and its
culture can be considered the pearl of the Serchio Valley.
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SURPRISE "OUTSIDER" WINS
