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Italy Ceiling of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

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Located on the Piazza del Duomo in Bergamo Citta Alta, one can admire the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a remarkable example of Lombard Romanesque. Building work started in 1137 (twelfth century) thanks to a town vote which promised the construction of a splendid church in exchange for the end of the plague epidemic which had afflicted the city. The primitive Romanesque structure (one nave and two aisles, with two major portals, two minor portals and an octagonal cupola) has been reworked over the centuries to the point where it is now very difficult to detect it. The most radical change was the construction of the Colleoni Chapel in the place of the old sacristy, at the same time as the addition, on the northern side, of the new sacristy. The Gothic steeple which dominates the portal is, in turn, an addition made in the fifteenth century. All the portals are the work of Giovanni da Campione. Of these the one next to the Colleoni Chapel (1353) deserves particular attention, as it blends Romanesque features (the round type of arch, the decoration of the portal depicting medieval animals and warriors), with a more exquisitely Gothic flavour. Giovanni da Campione is actually one of the last of the group of so-called "Campionese masters", who lived and worked in the transitional period from the Romanesque to the Gothic style. The equestrian statue of St Alexander by the same artist, which dominates the portal can already be fully classed as Gothic style.
The inside has also been radically changed compared to the original Romanesque structure, by decorations in stucco and marble from the seventeenth century; a wooden choir by Andrea Previtali (1470-1528) and Bernardino Zenale (1450-1526, one of the architects who contributed to the building of Milan Cathedral), following a design by Lorenzo Lotto; a wooden confessional by Andrea Fantoni, an interesting example of baroque art; Flemish tapestries from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the one which depicts the "Crocefissione" (Crucifixion) is particularly spectacular; frescos from the Giottesque school of the 1400s, representing the Stories of the Life of St Eligio and an "Ultima Cena" (Last Supper).

Photography Tips

Widest fast lens possible.

Travel Information

Located at the center of Bergamo Citta Alta
Spot Type Indoor
Crowd Factor Lots of people
Best Timing All timings are equally good
Sunrise & Sunset 06:23 - 18:34 | current local time: 03:19
Photo Themes ceiling fresco painting works of art
Locations Bergamo Citta Alta

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Spot Comments (5)

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Edward
Edward 13.06.2018
How do you get a shot that wide without being in it? I'm assuming you were using a small tripod or was it standard size, that you could hide below, and just an ultra-wide lens? I ask because I have a trip to Sicily coming up.
Alona Azaria
Alona Azaria 13.06.2018
Well in cathedrals and churches I never bring a tripod, mind you, the guard would not allow it. What I do is look up for composition, one foot backwards for balance, hold both arms tight lift the camera up, meter, adjust, focus and shoot. Then I take a rest for a few minutes :-) My advice to you going to amazing Sicily is to take a tripod. If you absolutely cannot, Manfrotto has small iron table tripod that does not weight much and that can take easily the weight of DSLRs plus lenses. I do that myself sometimes. There are always places you can lean this thing on. Otherwise, I read here one of our members suggested a camera clamp but I had not seen it yet. I will definitely look into it.
Edward
Edward 13.06.2018
Thanks - I try for low ISO levels but have to compromise in darker interiors like churches. I don't have a super-wide or ultra-wide with image stabilisation so I either compromise or acquire a new friend called Manfrotto. Useful advice - thank you.
Alona Azaria
Alona Azaria 13.06.2018
The new friend Manfrotto does not cost more than Eur. 45. The type is Manfrotto 709B Digital Table Tripod and it can take 2Kg. it takes easily 994g for the camera and 1kg for he 14-24 lens.
Edward
Edward 14.06.2018
But with their quick release plate (I have them permanently fitted), its over Eur.90. I'll have to research this further but this is a good place to start. Thank you.

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Thank you Alona Azaria for creating this photo spot in Italy and Mia Pflieger for improving it with additional photos or content.
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