The Church of St. Andrew is a historical and artistic jewel located in the upper part of the village of Ceriana, in the square of the same name where the newly restored bell tower towers imposingly, once a watchtower against possible invasions by Turks and Saracens: inside, the smoked wall is still visible, at which the guards used to light a fire to warm themselves.
The interior of the church exudes the ancient atmosphere of early Christian basilicas, with the smoked wall at which the guards would light fires for warmth. The Church of St. Andrew is also home to the Oratory of the Compagnia dei Neri della Misericordia, a Company that has been dedicated to assisting the needy since the 19th century.
The church itself dates back to the fourth century and was built on an area where a temple dedicated to Apollo apparently once stood. The columns of the ancient temple were used for the construction of the church itself, which has undergone numerous renovations, remodeling, and decorations over the centuries.
The facade of the church was renovated in 2006, restoring the structure to its former glory. The architecture is simple but elegant, with clean and harmonious lines that blend perfectly with the surrounding context.
Entering through the “little door,” located on the longitudinal side, from the Church of St. Andrew, one is immediately enraptured by the absolute silence and soft luminosity produced by the combination of the ancient late medieval structure and the nineteenth-century skylights of the vault.
The latter was decorated in 1868 with mostly phytomorphic motifs. The large panel painting of the Martyrdom of St. Andrew (17th cent.) dominates the high altar and the imposing Tabernacle with its coeval carved wooden frame and columns. The circular serravolta of the small chancel is adorned with a bas-relief of the Agnus Dei. On the right, above the polychrome marble altar inlaid with phytomorphic motifs, a niche, decorated with symbols of the Passion of Christ, houses the polychrome wooden statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, Patroness of the Company. On the left is the altar of St. Bruno, whose depiction appears in an old painting between St. Paula Romana and St. Britius, bishop of Tours. In recent years major restorations have been made to the paintings, niches and the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows.
The organ dates back to 1828, later restored by Lorenzo Paoli and electrified by the Pedrazzi firm in 1988, but it still retains its manual bellows power supply. It is placed on the brickwork choir loft above the main door, specially built and supported by two concrete columns with Ionic capitals.
The archive preserves the book of accounts, lectionaries, old missals. Among the old objects is a “busciurélu” that was used to collect alms for the Masses of the Dead: at noon on Sunday a penitent, wearing the black habit of the Company, would knock on the doors saying, “Anime Sante ve mérite a tua santa carità .”
The Church of St. Andrew is a place of worship but also a symbol of local history and culture. Those who visit it cannot help but be fascinated by its beauty and evocative atmosphere.
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