Church of Sant'Andrea

 
The ancient church of Sant'Andrea
The church of Sant’Andrea deserves a special mention among the significant traces bearing witness to the history of Fiorenzuola. Today only the attractive bell tower with its clock remains, marking the passing of the hours. Supported by mighty walls, it seems that it was originally an armoury or a blockhouse; in any case, a fortification.
Fiorenzuola di Focara

 

One of the four castles (together with Casteldimezzo, Gradara and Granarola) built between the X and XIII centuries in order to create an organic defence system for the control of the Siligata Pass in the boundary area between the Ravennate Church and the Pesarese Church first, and then between the Malatesta of Rimini and the Pesaro Malatesta.
The village, originally called Fiorenzuola, became Fiorenzuola di Focara in 1889 probably for the presence of bonfires in ancient times which marked the position for ships in navigation, or for the presence of "fornacelle" (kilns) where bricks and terracotta were fired (from the Romagnolo dialect fuchèr or fughèr, that is kiln for firing bricks). Today, in testimony to the city's history, there remain several portals from the 1600s/1700s, some door-knockers, the ruins of the medieval walls. Also interesting is a door bearing a plate recalling the verses of Dante (Inferno XXVIII) which evoke an event which took place on the sea facing the village. The Church of St. Andrea is also to be noted, its existence is documented from the XII century. It is particularly enchanting to stroll through the village which has maintained the memory of the past in its alleys and small squares.

 

Piazza Paoli
The ancient church of St Andrew Apostle is mentioned in documents dating from as long ago as 1144, showing how important a place it was. The rectorship of this church was one of the most sought-after in the entire diocese of Pesaro. Rebuilt in 1825 on the foundations of the ancient fortress, it had five altars dedicated respectively to saints Andrew, Antony of Padua, Lucy and Agatha, Our Lady of the Rosary, and the Most Holy Cross. All these altars were surrounded by fine works of art, some of which have survived and are now in Pesaro or in the new parish church just outside the walls. The church also had a very fine organ of the Callido school, dating from 1825 and commissioned by Father Rossi, then the parish priest. Until the present cemetery was built in 1867, priests, members of the confraternities, and children, were buried under the church floor. On August the sixteenth 1916, Sant’Andrea church was completely destroyed by a severe earthquake, leaving as a memorial only the bell-tower, recently restored as a symbol of the village.
Write to the Park
Home Page