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The Cathedral, dedicated to the patron saint of L’Aquila, S. Massimo martyr named di Aveia, was built in 12th century and rebuilt after the earthquake of 1703. The façade, in neoclassical style, dates back to 1851 and is characterized by four Ionic columns in the lower part and two side towers. Over the lintel of the main door three coats of arms are visible: the one of the Pope, the one of the City Chapter and the one of the Archbishop.
The interior is characterized by a wide nave and two narrow aisles and contains the Agnifili tomb of Silvestro from L’Aquila, a precious eighteen-century wooden choir and fifteen and nineteen-century paintings. The high altar (18th century), under which the relics of S. Massimo were placed, is attributed to Mannella from Pescocostanzo.
According to the tradition, in 1275, hermit Peter from Morrone, while coming back from Lyons, where he had asked the Pope for recognition of his new order, stopped in L'Aquila and decided to spend the night on a nearby hill, called Collemaggio. There he dreamt of the Virgin Mary who asked him to build a church in Her honor on that very place. Nowadays, on that hill stands the most beautiful church of the city.
On the left of the Basilica is situated the Holy Door and it is told that Peter from Morrone went through this door in 1294 to be crowned Pope under the name of Celestine V.
Basilica of S. Bernardino from Siena is the biggest church of the Renaissance in Abruzzi and they started to build it in 1454, some years after the death of St. Bernardino from Siena (1380-1444), Franciscan and preacher who spent some time in L’Aquila and founded the congregation of the Friars of St. Bernardino.
The construction was carried on by St. John from Capestrano and St. James della Marca, disciples of St. Bernardino, and finished after about twenty years.
The three-tiered façade is attributed to the architect Cola dell’Amatrice and is built in the three different classical styles, Ionic, Doric and Corinthian. On the top the bernardinians monograms can be seen.
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