San Fabiano, Prato

San Fabiano is a Romanesque-style, Roman Catholic church and abbey located at Via di Gherardo and Via del Seminario street in Prato, region of Tuscany, Italy.[1] The early medieval structure is one of Prato's oldest churches.[2]

Chiesa di san Fabiano
The facade
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholic
Location
LocationPrato, Italy
Architecture
TypeChurch
StyleRomanesque,
Baldo Magini with a model of the Church of San Fabiano (1522) by Niccolò Soggi
San Fabiano

History

The church already was documented in 1082, and construction lasted into 12th century. Originally attached to a Benedictine monastery, it later passed to the Vallumbrosan Order.[3]

The church is noted for the 11th century mosaic pavement, depicting panthers, sirens, griffins, and floral motifs,[3] which were found during restoration of the church. The mosaic is made of light Alberese tiles and black marble.[1] The mosaic images, like the siren, are believed to depict pagan symbols,[2] which suggests that the church was built on a former pagan site.[4]

In the 15th century[5] or the beginning of the 16th century, the brick polygonal bell-tower was added to the church.[1] In 1522, Niccolò Soggi painted the altarpiece Baldo Magini with a model of the Church of San Fabiano; this painting is now located in the Prato Cathedral.[6]

The polychrome wooden Crucifix located behind the altar is also from the 16th century. Within the courtyard is a facade that has a white and green Prato marble archivolt portal.[1]

References

  1. Church of San Fabiano. Prato Turismo. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  2. John Moretti. Frommer's Florence, Tuscany and Umbria. John Wiley & Sons; 5 January 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-59766-8. p. 257.
  3. Rete Civica di Prato, short introduction.
  4. David Bershad; Caroline Mangone. The Christian Travelers Guide to Italy. Zondervan; 27 December 2011. ISBN 978-0-310-31575-9. p. 247.
  5. Prato. Life in Italy. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  6. 1520s. Portrait timeline. Retrieved 25 May 2014.

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