Itinerary 6

From Piazza Cavalli, along Via Cittadella at the corner with Via Borghetto stands Palazzo Mandelli The Mandelli family, originally from Milan, came to Piacenza during the Middle Ages and in the XIV century they became Marquis of Corso. When the family died out in 1827, the building hosted some other rich families then the prefect’s office and the Provincial administration until 1913 when Banca d'Italia (the central bank of Italy) took place and provided for a general rearrangement.

In via Borghetto stands the church of S. Maria del Carmine. Closed in 1810, it was used as a military deposit, then it was given to privates and now it is abandoned because unsafe. Entrusted to Carmelites, it rose in 1332 with a latin cross with a nave and 2 aisles. It hosted a meeting of the monastic order during the reform wanted by S. Teresa d'Avila (Spain). Decorated between 1500 and 1600, its facade was built by architect De Agostini.

From Via Borghetto you get to S. Sisto. This church, with a arcade courtyard was established in 1874 by queen Angilberga (emperor’s Lodovio il Pio wife) who wanted here the construction of a Benedictine monastery. The church was enriched by goods and privileges and it hosted several Saints’ relics. For this church, Raffaello painted a sublime painting “the Sistina Madonna” which was sold in 1754 by the monks to August III, king of Poland for 12.000 sequins. A copy, made by Avanzini a painter from Piacenza, is now located at the end of the high altar.

In Via Mazzini stands Casa Riccardi - Tedaldi The Riccardi were wealthy merchants who became counts in 1697 and they had this beautiful palace that a century later sold to the Tebaldi family.
In Via Poggiali there is palazzo Paveri Fontana risen in the eighteen century and the church of S.Eufemia, one of the most famous Romanesque churches of Piacenza. The first unit of the temple dates back to the eleventh century.

In via S. Bartolomeo it is situated the Church of S. Bartolomeo. It is Greek cross-shaped and it has a typical baroque style. It was erected in the second half of the eighteenth century. The façade is in terracotta according to the baroque style. Inside, a big central dome let filter a lot of light.
In the past, near the ancient medieval church (that was not of the eighteenth century) rose an hospital- hospice for pilgrims that later became a convent.

In the holy architecture of the Renaissance stands the basilica of San Sepolcro that overlooks a little square of Via Campagna, on the corner with S.Nazaro. Finished in 1533 by Alessio Tramello of Piacenza, it went through radical rebuildings. During the Napoleonic period the church was closed and used as military hospital as long as it was reopened to worship in 1903 thanks to Mon. Scalabrini.

Alessio Tramello and the painter Giovanni Antonio Pordenone probably made a great contribution to the solemn builing of Santa Maria di Campagna, so majestic to welcome the miraculous statue of “Madonna della Campagnola” and the crowds of believers.
The church overlooks a square called “Delle Crociate” (of the crusades) because in this place, in 1095, pope Urbano II organized the first crusade. It still keeps several precious paintings of the painter Antonio de’ Sacchis, called Pordenone.