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317:. In 1855, Antonelli submitted an even more ambitious plan than the original, increasing the cupola's projected height from 65 to 75 meters, and by 1858, funds had been mustered to continue works. However, architectural interventions by Antonelli caused costs to balloon to an unacceptable amount, and Antonelli was forced to submit a cheaper plan in 1861. By this time, most of the cupola had already been completed, but the battles over cost had prevented the dome from being built, and Antonelli devoted most of the next ten years to the
293:; at this point, the transept and presbytery had not even began construction. The worsening of Novara's economic situation, aggravated by various plagues and wars, halted further construction until 1626. Structural works were mostly completed by 1656. On 11 June 1711, the church was formally completed with the solemn deposition of the relics of Saint Gaudenzio in the reliquary, which had been stored in St. George's Chapel since 1552.
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In the following years the church began to show signs of structural failure under the weight of the cupola, which was, moreover, already discernible during the early stages of construction. Starting in 1881, Antonelli therefore devoted himself to the consolidation of the four load-bearing pillars at
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Over the years there were frequent fears that the dome might collapse, and a major alarm in 1937 caused the monument to be closed for nearly 10 years. During this period reinforced concrete consolidation work was carried out by architect Arturo
Danusso to avoid the prospect of the dome falling onto
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Novara was miraculously spared from the second plague pandemic of 1576, and in gratitude for the city's preservation, a site at the highest natural point in the city was chosen as the site for the rebuilt basilica. A Romanesque church, San
Vincenzo Martire, already existed at this site, but it was
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was commissioned to design the cupola. The first design was submitted in 1841, and work commenced three years later. Much of the interior structure around the crossing had to be rebuilt to carry the cupola's projected weight, and the project had nothing to show in terms of height when it was
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In recent years a series of sophisticated alarm systems have been installed inside the building to monitor any dangers of subsidence, cracks or oscillations. The building, which has become an icon and symbol of Novara, reaches a total height of 121 meters.
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mostly demolished for the new building. However, three chapels of San
Vincenzo Martire are preserved in the modern building, including St. George's chapel, where the relics of Gaudentius were stored following the demolition of the original basilica.
270:, and all structures outside the city walls, including the original Basilica, were demolished, however, the emperor quickly opened a brick factory within the city with the goal of eventually rebuilding the church.
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the city; however, recent reexamination of this work reveals that the reinforcement was unnecessary. In the case of structural failure, the dome would collapse in onto itself, rather than topple into the city.
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The first church dedicated to the saint existed near the current end of the Via XX Settembre, about 500 meters east of the current site, by 841, it was later rebuilt and reconsecrated in 1298.
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Planning for the
Basilica's most notable feature, its huge cupola, began fifty years later, once sufficient funds had been raised for the purpose by an increase in taxes.
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the base of the dome and the expansion of the foundations. The work was completed in early 1887, just in time for the feast of the patron saint (January 22).
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in Turin. When he returned to the project in 1873, as an esteemed and elderly architect, he was given
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to complete the cupola. It was completed in 1887, and a statue of
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was hoisted to the top of the dome on 16 May of the same year.
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397:"Più antiche carte dell'archivio di S. Gaudenzio di Novara"
38:. It is the highest point in the city. It is dedicated to
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https://www.turismonovara.it/en/ArtandHistoryDetail?Id=125
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From 1552 to 1554, Novara was fortified at the behest of
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List of tallest structures built before the 20th century
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The
Basilica's campanile was built from 1753 to 1786 by
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17th-century Roman
Catholic church buildings in Italy
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483:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1690
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42:, first Christian bishop of the city.
66:The Basilica's Campanile and Cupola
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16:Church in Novara, Italy
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167:45.449833°N 8.621167°E
145:Geographic coordinates
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425:www.turismonovara.it
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310:Alessandro Antonelli
297:Campanile and Cupola
208:Alessandro Antonelli
40:Gaudentius of Novara
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189:Architect(s)
183:Architecture
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126:Municipality
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158:8°37′16.2″E
78:Affiliation
34:, northern
477:Categories
447:45°26′56″N
430:2024-04-11
406:2024-04-11
382:2024-04-11
359:References
197:(basilica)
450:8°37′12″E
268:Charles V
237:Completed
347:See also
211:(cupola)
121:Location
107:Piedmont
90:Province
72:Religion
32:Piedmont
22:Basilica
259:History
245:Website
134:Country
129:Novara
113:Patron
102:Region
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218:Style
138:Italy
36:Italy
240:1877
232:1577
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