Cattedrale di San Pietro

piazza Giovanni XXIII, 1 - 15121 Alessandria (AL)
Tel. +39 (0131) 442.620
Tel. +39 (0131) 512.239
Tel. +39 0131 512.201
E-mail: beniculturali@diocesialessandria.it
https://diocesialessandria.it/diocesi/cattedrale/
https://www.cittaecattedrali.it/it/bces/34-cattedrale-di-san-pietro
https://www.comune.alessandria.it/l-ottocento#ottocento_1

The Cathedral was built between 1875 and 1879 by Edoardo Arborio Mella to replace the old Romanesque cathedral which was demolished on the order of Napoleon I. To the left of the Neo-classical facade rises the 106-metre high bell tower and spire. The Latin cross-shaped interior with three naves features a series of deep side chapels and closes with a large ambulatory. The frescoes of the church are almost entirely the work of Luigi Morgari. The statue of St. Joseph and the sculpture of the Crucifix supported by two angels and adored by Saints Pius V and Baudolino, which crowned the main altar, are attributed to Parodi. The dome is embellished with the statues of 24 patron saints of the towns of the Lombardy League. The chapel of St. Pius V features one of the few remaining 14th century artistic testimonies in the town: the Virgin with Child, titled Madonna dell'Uscetto. The Altarpiece with St. Peter Enthroned by Callisto Piazza (1546), two sculptures in wood attributed to Baldino di Surso (mid-15th century) and the Crucifix in the first chapel on the right date to the Renaissance period. The statue of the Madonna at the foot of the cross supported by St. John, titled Madonna the Savior, is of the same time period: it represents the patron saint of the town that is still venerated today.

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The cathedral of Alessandria, located in the centre of the town, stands on the site of a Lombard Gothic style building demolished in 1803 to meet the military needs of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1805, the chapter received the 14th century Church of San Marco from Napoleon which was rebuilt between 1807 and 1810, to the design by the architect Cristoforo Valizzone. This gave way to a Neo-classical church in contrast with the parts that had remained, namely the vault of the central nave and the columns. The double style was eliminated between 1874 and 1879 thanks to the architect Edoardo Arborio Mella (1808-1884) of Vercelli, arriving at the current Bramante-style architecture with a dome at the intersection of the two arms of the transept. The current decoration, dating to 1926-29, was entrusted to Luigi Morgari of Turin (1857-1935), while the high altar dates to 1954. The presbytery is embellished by 5 stained glass windows (1954) which depict the Immaculate Virgin Mary, St. Pius V, St. Baudolino, St. Paul of the Cross, the Blessed Gregorio Maria Grassi. All is completed by the organ (1929), whose facades embellish the four women's galleries above the presbytery. Behind the high altar you can admire the 18th century inlaid wooden choir, above it a magnificent painting by Callisto da Lodi (1546) which represents St. Peter between Saints Paul and John the Baptist. On the outside, the facade is in Neoclassical style with Corinthian columns. The paintings which embellish the church are The Liberation of St. Peter from prison, The Delivery of the Keys, St. Peter walking towards Jesus on the water of Lake Tiberias, work by Luigi Vacca of Turin (1771-1854). In the tympanum. the same Vacca represented the Eternal Father, while the attic features 5 marble statues representing the Redeemer and the four Evangelists. A monument in honor of Gagliaudo, belonging to the old cathedral, stands to the left of the facade. He was a legendary figure who saved the town during the siege at the hands of Barbarossa (1174).