San Severino abate

San Severino abate, known locally as Chiesa di San Severino abate, is a historic and architectural gem located in the heart of San Severo, Italy. This ancient church, designated as a national monument, stands as the oldest sacred building in the city, with its origins dating back to 1059. As the first parish and mother church of San Severo, it holds a significant place in the city’s religious and cultural history.

The Historical Journey of San Severino abate

The story of San Severino abate begins between the Lombard and Byzantine periods, when Benedictine monasticism spread from the monastery of Cassino, bringing with it the veneration of Saint Severinus of Noricum. It is along the route of the Via Francigena, now known as the “Via Sacra Langobardorum,” that a primitive chapel dedicated to the saint was established. This small chapel became a focal point for pilgrims traveling to Monte Sant'Angelo, leading to the formation of the fortified village of San Severino in the 11th century, which eventually grew into the modern city of San Severo.

Originally, the church was a three-nave Benedictine structure with a simple gabled façade. By 1224, it had been transformed into a larger single-nave temple, reconsecrated by Risandro, the Bishop of Melfi. The church underwent further expansion after 1295 during the reign of Charles II of Anjou, incorporating materials from the abandoned palatium Bellumvidere of Frederick II. This expansion extended the nave to its current length and added a transept, resulting in the present Latin cross layout. The distinctive tilted apse, symbolizing the reclined head of Christ, adds to the church’s unique charm.

Architectural Marvels and Artistic Treasures

The church’s architecture is a blend of different styles and periods, reflecting its long history of renovations and restorations. The main façade, made of stone and brick, features a portal with an inscription commemorating the 1224 reconsecration and a simple arch made of coral breccia. A late medieval statue of Saint Severinus, dressed as an apostle, is nestled in a niche in the modestly Baroque tympanum.

The transept façade, more ornate and also made of stone, boasts a portal from the Frederick II era, attributed to Bartolomeo da Foggia. This portal is adorned with a sumptuous arch supported by lion-shaped brackets, a six-rayed rose window, and a 12th-century bas-relief triptych depicting Saint Severinus in pontifical attire flanked by two angels. Adjacent to this façade stands the imposing bell tower, the tallest in the city at fifty meters. The lower medieval section, with its elegant Gothic bifora and two 19th-century marble sundials, contrasts with the Baroque upper section, which was completed around 1730 and crowned with a pyramid-shaped spire covered in colorful majolica tiles.

Inside, the church spans 36 meters in length, 12 meters in width (widening to approximately 25 meters in the transept), and 16 meters in height (rising to 20 meters at the transept crossing). The interior’s stylistic discontinuity is a testament to the various periods of intervention it has seen. Near the entrance, framed by medieval stone jambs and a wooden drum created by Vincenzo Russi in 1888, is the grand baptistery. This features a 13th-century stone font, its base a Romanesque capital turned upside down, topped by an 18th-century wooden ciborium. The chapel housing the font was arranged in 1717.

Rich Interior Decorations

The church’s single, wide nave is adorned with vibrant 18th-century wall decorations. Various altars showcase statues and paintings, including a notable altarpiece depicting the Madonna of Constantinople with Saint Mark the Evangelist and Saint Anthony Abbot, an oil on canvas from 1540 by a Venetian school. The right side of the transept is highlighted by a large Gothic stone arch, while the left side features the elaborate pipe organ by Innocenzo Gallo (1749-50), with a case and veranda encrusted with gilded frames on a brightly colored background. Below the organ is a remarkable early 19th-century nativity scene by Neapolitan sculptor Arcangelo Testa. Opposite, on the old cemetery door, is a fine Neapolitan Pietà, an oil on canvas by Alessio D'Elia (1745).

The spacious presbytery is dominated by the statue of the titular saint, a polychrome wooden mannequin by Testa (1817), who is the principal patron saint of San Severo. The presbytery is flanked by the elegant 1758 wooden choir stalls, a refined work by Romolo Baratta from Avellino. The neoclassical main altar, consecrated in 1857, stands at the back, with a finely crafted tabernacle door by Neapolitan silversmith Gennaro Russo. Above the choir on both sides are early 20th-century tempera paintings depicting the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple on the left and Saint Francis Xavier preaching in the Indies on the right.

The Chapels of San Severino abate

The church houses several chapels, each with its own unique features and history. The main chapel, dedicated to Saint Severinus, features a marble altar from 1857 and a marble niche from 1915, housing the 1817 wooden mannequin of the saint by Arcangelo Testa. The chapels are a testament to the church’s rich history and its role as a center of worship and community life in San Severo.

San Severino abate is not just a church; it is a living chronicle of the city’s spiritual and cultural journey. Its walls and altars echo the prayers and hopes of generations, making it a must-visit for anyone exploring the historical and religious heritage of San Severo.