Introduction
The Cesena Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista) is the main Catholic place of worship in Cesena, Italy, and serves as the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Cesena-Sarsina. Originally located within the raised citadel (the Murata) before the Malatesta rule, the cathedral was moved to its current location in 1385. At the behest of Andrea Malatesta, the cathedral was rebuilt in a Romanesque-Gothic style, undergoing various transformations over the centuries. It returned to its original form with the last restoration in the second half of the 20th century.
In 1960, Pope John XXIII elevated the cathedral to the status of a minor basilica. Today, it remains a prominent religious and historical site in the region.
The Cesena Cathedral’s history dates back to 1378 when Galeotto I Malatesta, upon becoming lord, decided to rebuild the cathedral in the Croce di Marmo district, near the intersection of the Via Emilia and the ancient Via del Sale to Cervia (modern-day Corso Gastone Sozzi). The original church of Sant’Antonio Abate was replaced, and construction began in 1385, continuing for about twenty years. The project followed the plans of an architect from Unterwalden, Switzerland, known as Master Underwalden. His design adhered to the Hallenkirche (hall church) style, typical of Gothic architecture from the Germanic region.
Between 1443 and 1456, a bell tower was added, designed by Maso di Pietro of Lugano under the direction of Bishop Antonio Malatesta from Fossombrone. Bishop Antonio was instrumental in shaping the cathedral’s appearance, which remains largely as he envisioned. Upon his death, the Florentine sculptor Ottaviano di Antonio di Duccio crafted his sepulchral arcade. This marked the beginning of a flourishing period for the cathedral’s art, with famous sculptors like Giovanni Battista and Lorenzo Bregno from Osteno contributing to its decoration. The upper part of the facade was completed in the 15th and 16th centuries, designed by Mario Codussi.
In the late 16th century, Bishop Camillo Gualandi further revised the cathedral’s structure. He also consecrated the small painting of the Madonna del Popolo by Bartolomeo Ramenghi (known as Bagnacavallo), dedicating it to the popular devotion already surrounding the painting. The 17th century saw baroque renovations, and in the mid-18th century, the Madonna del Popolo was placed in a newly constructed chapel, built between 1746 and 1748. This chapel was designed by Pietro Carlo Borboni and frescoed by Corrado Giaquinto between 1750 and 1751.
After removing the baroque additions, a major restoration took place between 1886 and 1892, led by architect Francesco Gualandi, giving the cathedral a neo-Gothic appearance. The final restoration, conducted from 1957 to 1960, returned the cathedral to its original form. This restoration involved removing the neo-Gothic internal vaults, 19th-century altars, and adding a new ceiling and crypt, along with bricking up the windows on the facade. These changes resulted in the cathedral’s current appearance, closely resembling its original design.
Architecture of Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Cesena, Italy
Architectural Style: Romanesque Architecture
Exterior
The exterior of Cesena Cathedral is characterized by its Romanesque simplicity, with a brick façade broken up by eight pilasters that interrupt its otherwise uniform appearance. The upper part, designed by Mario Codussi, is of Venetian origin and features a triangular pediment, two semicircular tympanums, and two small pillars. In the center, there are a pair of pilasters adorned with an eye and a frieze of seraphim.
The decoration of the façade is modest, with a few notable elements. To the right of the portal, there is an inscription commemorating the plenary indulgence granted to the city by Pope Pius VI on July 9, 1793. A niche to the left of the portal contains a Madonna and Child sculpture by Vincenzo Gottardi, dating back to 1510.
On the left side of the cathedral stands a bronze statue of St. John the Baptist, created by sculptor Leonardo Lucchi in the 1980s. The statue, depicting the saint standing on a rock, is located in Piazza San Giovanni Paolo II, near the cathedral.
The Portal
The splayed, round-arched stone portal adds both majesty and elegance to the façade. According to tradition, it was moved from the ancient Church of San Lorenzo by order of Antonio Malatesta, although it is also possible that it is original to the cathedral.
The bronze door, installed in 2000, was crafted by Cesena sculptor Ilario Fioravanti and illustrates the virtues of Saint John the Baptist. The arch features the Madonna del Popolo flanked by Saints Mauro and Vicinio. Below, the Four Evangelists and the glorification of Christ are depicted, while the doors themselves illustrate episodes from the life of Saint John, including his encounter with Christ. The handles feature images of Saints Francis of Assisi, Clare, Ambrose, and Charles.
The Bell Tower
The bell tower is situated at the left rear of the cathedral. Constructed between 1443 and 1456 based on a design by Maso di Pietro della Val Lugano, it was further equipped with a bell tower in 1741 and its original dome in 1753. Standing at 72 meters tall, it is a prominent feature of the cathedral’s architecture.
Interior of Cesena Cathedral
The interior of Cesena Cathedral features a three-nave layout, with the central nave supported by wooden trusses and the lateral naves having cross-vaulted ceilings.
On the counter-façade, above the entrance, is a depiction of the Blessed Virgin with Child, angels, Saints Mauro and Severo, the city of Cesena, and martyrs Eugario, Firmio, Genesio, and Concordia, painted by Girolamo Cialdieri in 1625. This artwork, which was moved from the destroyed Church of San Severo, is accompanied by a plaque from 1650 commemorating Pier Giacomo Beccarini, a benefactor of the Company of the Madonna del Popolo. Above this, there’s a copper urn containing the relics of Saint Mauro (1645), and a sculpture of Saint Anthony the Abbot from the 16th century Bregno workshop.
In the right nave, one can find the 15th-century wooden Crucifix known as “San Zenone” and a sepulchral ark of Bishop Antonio Malatesta from 1467, crafted by Ottaviano di Antonio di Duccio. Also located here is the famous Altar of Corpus Domini, created by Giovanni Battista Bregno between 1494 and 1505. This altarpiece is considered the cathedral’s greatest sculptural work and features Christ, Saint John the Baptist, Saint John the Evangelist, the Archangel Gabriel, and patrons Carlo Verardi and his nephew Camillo. Continuing toward the presbytery, there is a depiction of St. Jerome by Livio Modigliani, a commemorative antependium for Bishop Augusto Gianfranceschi, and the remains of the Chapel of St. Tobia, which now houses the Cathedral Museum.
In the apse, two large paintings by Giuseppe Milani from 1782 honor Pope Pius VI, depicting the Birth and Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. The stained glass windows, created by Nicola Sebastio in 1981, illustrate the Magnificat, the Baptism of Christ, and the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist.
In the left nave, the niche leads to a fragment of a fresco titled The Holy Trinity Adored by Saint Francis and Canon Cesare Isolani, painted by Antonio Aleotti in 1509. This is accompanied by the sarcophagus of San Severo (1644–1645). To the right of the niche, on the wall of the side nave, is the Marinace Vescovo sundial from 1022, originally from the old cathedral. The sacristies are accessible through a door, with the first sacristy featuring cupboards designed by Fabio Urbino and a 15th-century coffered ceiling, and the second sacristy housing a Renaissance washbasin.
Also in the left aisle are further notable works, including San Severo Venerated by Carlo and Camillo Verardi by Gottardi (1490), a bas-relief with the co-patron saints, two patrons, angels, and a crowd of faithful, and a side door with a painting of the Madonna and Child with Saint Anthony of Padua.
The Chapel of the Madonna del Popolo opens into the nave, followed by a sculptural triptych with Saints Christopher, Leonardo, and Eustace, created by Lorenzo Bregno between 1514 and 1517.
The baptistery contains 16th-century frescoes depicting Saint Vincent Ferreri and Saint Roch, along with a baptismal font from 1541. Saint Mauro’s relics, the patron saint of Cesena, are kept in the crypt.
Altar of Corpus Domini (or St. John the Baptist)
In the fourth span of the right nave stands the Altar of Corpus Domini, also known as the Altar of St. John the Baptist or the Provostship Altar. Commissioned by the first archdeacon of the cathedral, Carlo Verardi (1440–1500), the altar was ordered in 1487, with patronage shared by Verardi and his nephews. Sculpted by Giovanni Battista Bregno between 1494 and 1505, the marble structure was completed by Giacomo Bianchi and Rocco Poltri between 1523 and 1525.
At the altar’s center, Christ is depicted holding a chalice to collect blood from his side, flanked by Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. The kneeling patrons, Carlo Verardi and his nephew Camillo, are also present. Christ’s central position forms the origin of the cross, with his body becoming part of the cross itself. The sculptures are highly detailed, with elegant draperies and well-crafted facial expressions. Angels are placed in the squares of the altar’s frame, which is adorned with floral candelabra, dolphins, ears of corn, cornucopias, monstrous figures, and birds like a phoenix. While the main structure was crafted by Bregno, the large shell at the base was added later, in the early 20th century, by Paolo Grilli from Cesena.
Chapel of the Madonna del Popolo (Albizzi Chapel)
Situated halfway up the nave, directly opposite the Altar of Corpus Domini, the Chapel of the Madonna del Popolo was commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Albizzi of Cesena (1593–1684) and designed by Pietro Carlo Borboni between 1746 and 1748. The chapel has a square plan, with Corinthian-style columns at each corner and beautifully crafted polychrome marble decorations.
The frescoes inside the chapel, painted by Corrado Giaquinto in 1750, include The Genealogy of the Virgin in the dome, which portrays Paradise with the Virgin, Child, and figures from the Old Testament. The pendentives are adorned with depictions of the prophets Baruch, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah.
The altar, built in 1882, was designed by Francesco Vespignani and Filippo Viti. It features the iconic Madonna del Popolo, painted by Bartolomeo Ramenghi, known as Bagnacavallo (1520). This image, a symbol of popular devotion since 1599, was placed in the chapel in 1683, following the wishes of Bishop Camillo Gualandi and Capuchin Father Girolamo da Forlì.
The chapel’s decoration also includes stucco work by Pietro Martinetti and fine marbles by Giovanni Fabbri (1753–1759). The stucco angels on the side doors were created by Antonio Trentanove between 1795 and 1796.
Several inscriptions commemorate significant events in the chapel’s history, including the visits of Pope Pius VI in 1782, Pope John Paul II on May 8, 1986, and Pope Francis on October 1, 2017. One inscription also remembers a miraculous event during World War II involving Bishop Beniamino Socche.
Pipe Organ
At the end of the right nave, positioned on a canopy, is the organ built in 1962 by the Fratelli Ruffatti family of Padua. The organ incorporates materials from the previous “Laudani e Giudici” organ, which was constructed in 1898. This earlier instrument had been damaged by wartime events and was originally installed in the choir above the entrance portal. In 1985, the Ruffatti family revised the organ, enhancing its sound and expanding its expressive range.
The organ features 2,121 pipes, two manuals with 61 notes each, a concave radial pedalboard with 32 notes, and 34 registers—26 of which are real and 8 are transmitted, derived, or prolonged. The transmission of signals between the console and the organ is managed by an electronic multiplex system, which operates over a single coaxial cable. This setup allows the organist to memorize up to 64 different combinations of registers, offering greater flexibility and control.
Feast Day
Feast Day : 24th June
The feast day of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Cesena, Italy, is celebrated on June 24th, the feast day of St. John the Baptist. This is a significant day in the liturgical calendar, as it honors St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the cathedral, known for his role in preparing the way for Jesus Christ.
Church Mass Timing
Yet to Update
Church Opening Time:
Monday : 7:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tuesday : 7:30 am – 12:00 pm
Wednesday : 7:30 am – 11:30 am, 3:45 pm – 6:45 pm
Thursday : 7:30 am – 12:00 pm
Friday : 7:30 am – 12:00 pm
Saturday : 7:30 am – 12:00 pm
Sunday : 7:30 am – 12:00 pm
Contact Info
Address :
Via Vescovado, 7, 47521 Cesena FC, Italy.
Phone : +39054721173
Accommodations
Connectivities
Airway
Rimini Airport (RMI) to Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Cesena, Italy distance between 43 min (41.8 km) via A14.
Railway
Cesena Railway Station to Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Cesena, Italy distance between 7 min (1.9 km) via V.le Europa.
