Cathedral of Sassari

The Cathedral of Sassari, known locally as Cattedrale di San Nicola, is a magnificent testament to the rich historical and architectural legacy of Sassari, Italy. Nestled in the heart of the city's historic center, in Piazza del Duomo, this cathedral is a beacon of spiritual and cultural significance. Its blend of architectural styles and its storied past make it a must-visit for anyone exploring the beauty of Sardinia.

The History of the Cathedral of Sassari

The origins of the Cathedral of Sassari can be traced back to the 12th century. It is first mentioned in a monastic document, the Condaghe di San Pietro di Silki, but its roots delve even deeper into history. The cathedral stands on the remnants of an ancient Roman and early Christian structure, with some of these ancient remains still visible beneath the current apse and the left transept.

In the 13th century, the church underwent a significant reconstruction in the Romanesque Pisan style. It was the only parish church in Sassari until 1278, when additional parishes were established in the city. Between 1435 and 1518, following the transfer of the bishop's seat from Porto Torres to Sassari in 1441, the church was radically renovated in the Gothic-Catalan style. This period marked its elevation to cathedral status.

The 17th century saw the demolition of the first of the cathedral's three bays due to structural instability. Between the 17th and 18th centuries, the current Baroque facade was constructed, adding to the cathedral's grandeur and making it one of the most imposing structures in Sardinia.

Exterior Grandeur

The exterior of the Cathedral of Sassari is a sight to behold. Dominated by a tall bell tower on its left side, the base of this tower, with its square shaft adorned with hanging arches, biforas, and monoforas, is one of the few remaining elements of the original Romanesque parish church. The bell tower rises further with a slender octagonal turret topped with a dome, added in the 18th century.

The cathedral is also characterized by its hemispherical dome and the gargoyles that jut out along its sides. Some of these gargoyles are original from the Gothic reconstruction of the 15th and 16th centuries, while others were added in later periods.

The most striking feature of the cathedral's exterior is undoubtedly its Baroque facade. Standing over 30 meters high, it is the most impressive in Sardinia. The facade is divided into three levels: the first level features a portico with three round arches, the second level houses richly decorated niches with statues of the three Turritan martyrs, and the third level contains a niche with a statue of Saint Nicholas. At the top of the facade, a sculpture of the Eternal Father crowns the curvilinear gable.

Interior Splendor

The Nave

Upon entering the cathedral through the main portal, visitors are greeted by the expansive nave, divided into two bays by pointed arches. The ribbed vaults, constructed in two phases between 1430 and 1505, are a fine example of late Gothic Catalan style. Eight chapels, two per bay, open off the nave through round arches. The marble pulpit, sculpted by Giuseppe Gaggini in 1840 in neoclassical forms, is located on the right side near the last chapel. The semicircular parapet of the pulpit is adorned with bas-reliefs depicting the four evangelists.

The Transcept

Beyond the second bay lies the transept, at the center of which rises a Renaissance-style hemispherical dome supported by four corner pendentives. These pendentives rest on brackets adorned with carvings of the emblems of the four evangelists, although only the eagle of Saint John remains today. The drum of the dome features sixteen biforas in Gothic-Catalan style, some of which are blind.

The transept houses two chapels, each with impressive marble altars. The right arm of the transept contains the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, with a 19th-century altar sculpted by Francesco Orsolino and Giacomo Gaggini in late Baroque style with some neoclassical elements. The left arm features the Chapel of Saint Anne, with an 18th-century altar, and the neoclassical marble mausoleum of Placido Benedetto di Savoia, Count of Moriana, sculpted by Felice Festa in 1807.

The Presbytery and Apse

At the center of the transept, beneath the dome, lies the presbytery. Elevated above the nave and enclosed by a marble balustrade, the presbytery features a 1690 marble high altar in classical style, with Corinthian columns supporting a broken pediment with a central niche and a depiction of the Holy Spirit as a dove. The altar is adorned with a 14th-century panel painting of the Madonna del Bosco, a prized work of the Sienese school.

Behind the altar, an ogival arch leads to the apse, which consists of two sections: a square section with a Gothic ribbed vault from the 15th and 16th centuries, and a semicircular section with a quarter-sphere vault from the 18th century. The apse houses a beautifully carved wooden choir from the 18th century, crafted by local artisans. The choir also once contained a small sacellum with the relics of Saint Antiochus of Torres, discovered in 1614 in an elegant tomb near those of the three patron saints of the Diocese.

In conclusion, the Cathedral of Sassari, or Cattedrale di San Nicola, is not just a religious edifice but a monumental symbol of Sassari's rich history and architectural evolution. Its walls and structures tell stories of centuries past, making it an unmissable attraction for anyone visiting this beautiful Sardinian city.