Suggestive and evocative complex of holy medieval buildings named after the protomartire, eventhough none carries his name; facing the square are (from the left) the church of SSVitale and Agricola, quella polygonal of the S.Sepulchre and that of the Crucifix. This one dates back to XI century; it is aisleless with a presbytery raised upon the cript.
The church was erected by Domenican friars in 1221-33
and was reduced to the present state in 1728-32 by C.F.Dotti. On the left
of the simple facade from the XIII century (restored) juts out the elegant
chapel Ghisilardi, based on a design of B.Peruzzi (c.1530).
The interior, with a nave and two aisles, is rich
of art works. In the right aisle is located the CHAPEL OF S.DOMENICO (1605)
where you can admire the famous, mable ark of S.Domenico: the urn with
the rilieves (stories of the Saint) is the work of the studio of
Nicola Pisano; the cyma with the statues of the patron saints of the city
is by Nicolò dell'Arca (1473); the Angel on the right and the two
statues of S.Petronio and S.Procolo are by Michelangiolo (1494).
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By the altar in the right transept there is the painting
"S.Tomaso d'Aquino" by Guercino. -
In the absid there is a rich inlaid choir (1541-51) and
above a magnificent golden architectonical frame by B.Cesi (1595).
On the right side of the church there are two chloisters of the annesso convento: the "chloister of the dead" (il chiostro dei Morti) (sec.XIV-XV), dominated by the absid of the chapel of S.Domenico and from the roman-gothic bell tower(1336); and the major chloister (chiostro maggiore), by the Terribilia (1551).
The church is one of the most important of the city. The structure shows the influence of the French gothic (campate a pianta quadrata con volte partite in sei vele, peribolo a cappelle radiali, archi rampanti dall'esterno). It was begun in 1236 and dedicated in1254, while it was completed in its essential parts in 1263. Soon numerous chapels were built around the church: of these only the 15th century one of S.Bernardino - built in late gothic style - still exists on the side towards piazza S.Francesco (S.Francesco square). In 1397 the sacristy was first completed (it was restored in 1950 after the damages of the war), while the bell tower was built between 1397 and 1402. Both were designed by Antonio di Vincenzo. The church was desecreated in 1798 and reduced to customs in 1804. It was later re-opened in 1886 and restored a first time in 1928 and a second time after the Second World War, because of bombings in 1943. The romanic facade was built in 1250 with a single spire and partitioned in three by four pilaster strips.
