The Church of Saints John the Baptist and Evangelist in Gallinaro: History and Baroque Splendour
La Church of Saints John the Baptist and Evangelist is one of Gallinaro's most fascinating monuments. A true treasure chest of art and faith, the building stands in a dominant position, constructed in the Middle Ages directly on the ramparts and walls of the primitive local castle.
A Millennial History: From Castle to Parish
The roots of this site go back to the 1023, when the castle was conquered by Norman mercenaries who, on the orders of Emperor Henry II, dispossessed the Lombard lords and handed it over to the grandsons of Melo di Bari.
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The first tracks: The church of St John is first mentioned in documents of the 1310, although at the time it was probably just a chapel inside the fortress.
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Ecclesiastical evolution: In 1404, the chapel came under the jurisdiction of the Archpriest of St Nicholas and was later named “Recettizia”.
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The ultimate transformation: The turning point came between 1592 and 1595, when Matthew of Capua (Prince of Conca and Duke of Alvito) granted his “casamento” (castle) to the community to be turned into a church.
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The inauguration: On 15 November 1596, the Bishop Solomon officially entered the new structure, which assumed the title of Parish, taking it away from the older church of St Nicholas.
Historical curiosity: Until the early 19th century, the steps in front of the church were the civic heart of the village, hosting the assemblies of the Parliament of the University of Gallinaro.
Architecture: Between Romanesque and Baroque
The present building is the result of a complex architectural stratification. Although the original layout recalls the Romanesque style, today's appearance is the result of the radical restoration of the 1741, wanted by the priest Saba Bevilacqua (commemorated by an epigraph on the right aisle).
The Exterior and the Bell Tower
The façade, entirely covered in plaster, is punctuated by imposing pilasters and decorated with delicate floral motifs and the figure of a cherub. On the right stands the bell tower, integrated into the structure, which from the 1730 hosts the’public clock of the country.
The Interior: A Journey into 18th Century Art
The interior has a single nave with four side chapels (two on each side). The decorative line is markedly Baroque, enhanced by stuccoes, capitals and “mecha” gilding.
The Fresco Cycle
The barrel vault is embellished with projecting arches framing five panels frescoed in the 18th century. The authors, although unknown, demonstrate a remarkable anatomical rendering:
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King David intent on playing the lyre (or harp).
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The Sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham.
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L’Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
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St Gerard flanked by St Peter (left) and St Stephen (right).
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I Saints John the Baptist and Evangelist with three cherubs and the Holy Spirit.
Sacred Furnishings and Hidden Treasures
The church holds artefacts of the highest craftsmanship, many dating back to the 18th century:
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The Organ and the Choir: Located in the counter façade, they are splendid woodwork dating from the beginning of the 1700.
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Wooden furniture: A confessional and a beautifully crafted pulpit from the last decades of the 18th century can be admired along the nave.
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The Side Chapels: Created by artists from 18th century Neapolitan school, host representations of the Madonna and Child, the Triumph of the Angels and the Trinity.
The Presbytery and Crypt
A space of particular elegance, separated from the nave by a refined marble balustrade.
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The Floor: Made of bichromatic marble in 1923, it has at its centre a limestone rosette from 1794. The latter served as the entrance to the burial crypt reserved for priests, known as the Regia Archipresbyterorum.
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The Altar and the Tabernacle: The polychrome marble altar is surmounted by a very rare tabernacle, chiselled with silver and mother-of-pearl inlays. This work was created in the second half of the 18th century by a master craftsman from Pescocostanzo for a then large expenditure of 60 ducats.
