The Abbey of Santa Giustina is a 10th-century

Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

abbey An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christian monks and nuns. The c ...

complex located in front of the

Prato della Valle Prato della Valle (''Prà deła Vałe'' in Venetian) is a 90,000-square-meter elliptical square in Padova, Italy. It is the largest square in Italy, Lionello Puppi, Giuseppe Toffanin. Guida di Padova. ''Arte e storia tra vie e piazze.'' Trie ...

in central

Padua Padua ( ; it, Padova ; vec, Pàdova) is a city and ''comune'' in Veneto, northern Italy. Padua is on the river Bacchiglione, west of Venice. It is the capital of the province of Padua. It is also the economic and communications hub of the ...

, region of Veneto, Italy. Adjacent to the former monastery is the

basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its nam ...

church of Santa Giustina, initially built in the 6th century, but whose present form derives from a 17th-century reconstruction.

History

A church dedicated to the St

Justina of Padua Justina of Padua ( it, Santa Giustina di Padova) is a Christian saint and a patroness of Padua. Her feast day is October 7. She is often confused with Justina of Antioch. She was devoted to religion from her earliest years and took the vow of per ...

and of other 4th century Christian martyrs of Padua, was present at the site by the 520s, erected under the patronage of the

Prefect Prefect (from the Latin ''praefectus'', substantive adjectival form of ''praeficere'': "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area. A prefect's ...

Opilius and housing the relics of the saint. The church was already described as lavish in decoration in the 565 biography of ''Life of St

Martin Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austr ...

'', written by

Venantius Fortunatus Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus ( 530 600/609 AD; french: Venance Fortunat), known as Saint Venantius Fortunatus (, ), was a Latin poet and hymnographer in the Merovingian Court, and a bishop of the Early Church who has been venerate ...

. By the 10th century,

pilgrim A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journey (often on foot) to some place of special significance to the adherent of ...

s who came to the basilica to venerate the saints' relics, were ministered by monks. In 971,

Bishop of Padua The Roman Catholic Diocese of Padua ( it, Diocesi di Padova; la, Dioecesis Patavina) is an episcopal see of the Catholic Church in Veneto, northern Italy. It was erected in the 3rd century.Rule of St. Benedict. Renovations were soon begun on the basilica. On 2 August 1052, workers putatively exhumed remains of various saints, including

Maximus the Confessor Maximus the Confessor ( el, Μάξιμος ὁ Ὁμολογητής), also spelt Maximos, otherwise known as Maximus the Theologian and Maximus of Constantinople ( – 13 August 662), was a Christian monk, theologian, and scholar. In his ea ...

Felicitas of Padua Felicitas of Padua is a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. She lived in the ninth century, and was a nun in Padua, probably at the convent of Saints Cosmas and Damian. Her relics are now in the Basilica of Saint Justina, Padua Padua ( ; ...

Julian the Hospitaller Julian the Hospitaller is a Roman Catholic saint, and the patron of the cities of Ghent and Macerata. History The earliest known reference to Julian dates to the late twelfth century.Holy Innocents. In 1110 the abbey was sacked by the troops of the future

Holy Roman Emperor The Holy Roman Emperor, originally and officially the Emperor of the Romans ( la, Imperator Romanorum, german: Kaiser der Römer) during the Middle Ages, and also known as the Roman-German Emperor since the early modern period ( la, Imperat ...

Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (c. 1173–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (121 ...

during his invasion of

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, in order to punish the monks for their loyalty to

Pope Pascal II Pope Paschal II ( la, Paschalis II; 1050 1055 – 21 January 1118), born Ranierius, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 August 1099 to his death in 1118. A monk of the Abbey of Cluny, he was cre ...

. In 1117, the complex was devastated by the powerful Verona earthquake. After the basilica and monastery were rebuilt, excavations resumed and in 1174 the remains of the patroness of the abbey was discovered, and in 1177, some remains attributed to St

Luke the Evangelist Luke the Evangelist (Latin: '' Lucas''; grc, Λουκᾶς, '' Loukâs''; he, לוקאס, ''Lūqās''; arc, /ܠܘܩܐ לוקא, ''Lūqā’; Ge'ez: ሉቃስ'') is one of the Four Evangelists—the four traditionally ascribed authors of t ...

. A period of decline in the observance of its way of life began to develop in the monastic community. At the same time, the monks were led by a number of very spiritual abbots, such as Arnaldo of Limena, who died while imprisoned by

Ezzelino III da Romano Ezzelino III da Romano (25 April 1194, Tombolo7 October 1259) was an Italian feudal lord, a member of the Ezzelino family, in the March of Treviso (in modern Veneto). He was a close ally of the emperor Frederick II ( r. 1220–1250), and ruled ...

and is honored as "

Blessed Blessed may refer to: * The state of having received a blessing * Blessed, a title assigned by the Roman Catholic Church to someone who has been beatified Film and television * ''Blessed'' (2004 film), a 2004 motion picture about a supernatural ...

", as is Nicholas of

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an e ...

. The abbey, however, reached the height of its influence under the leadership of

Ludovico Barbo Ludovico Barbo, O.S.B. (1381–1443), also referred to as Luigi Barbo, was a significant figure in the movement to reform monastic life in northern Italy during the 15th century. Originally a canon of the community which became the Canons Regul ...

, who, despite being a

canon regular Canons regular are priests who live in community under a rule ( and canon in greek) and are generally organised into religious orders, differing from both secular canons and other forms of religious life, such as clerics regular, designated by a ...

and not a monk, was appointed as abbot by the bishop in order to undertake a reform of the monastic life in the abbey. He was successful and the abbey became the nucleus of the

Congregation A congregation is a large gathering of people, often for the purpose of worship. Congregation may also refer to: *Church (congregation), a Christian organization meeting in a particular place for worship *Congregation (Roman Curia), an administra ...

of Santa Giustina, which spread to include monasteries throughout Europe who came under the guidance of the Abbot of Santa Giustina. The congregation later became called the

Cassinese Congregation The Subiaco Cassinese Congregation is an international union of Benedictine houses (abbeys and priories) within the Benedictine Confederation. It developed from the Subiaco Congregation, which was formed in 1867 through the initiative of Dom Pietro ...

. The abbey developed ties with centers of learning across the continent. The religious community was suppressed in 1797 when, after the occupation of the region by Napoleon's

French Revolutionary Army The French Revolutionary Army (french: Armée révolutionnaire française) was the French land force that fought the French Revolutionary Wars from 1792 to 1804. These armies were characterised by their revolutionary fervour, their poor equipme ...

. Its artworks and the most valuable collections of the abbatial library were sent to

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

by the occupying forces. The monks were expelled and the buildings and property were sold off in 1810. The cloisters were then used as a military hospital, later as a barracks. The buildings were returned to the Catholic Church in 1917 and

Pope Benedict XV Pope Benedict XV (Ecclesiastical Latin, Latin: ''Benedictus XV''; it, Benedetto XV), born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, name=, group= (; 21 November 185422 January 1922), was head of the Catholic Church from 1914 until his deat ...

re-established the abbey with all its ancient rights and privileges. He placed it under the Abbey of Praglia in nearby

Teolo Teolo ( vec, Teóło) is a '' comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Padua in the Italian region Veneto, located about west of Venice and about southwest of Padua. The municipality of Teolo is divided into the ''frazioni A ''frazione'' (p ...

, which sent monks to resume monastic life there. On 1 November 1942 the community was declared an autonomous

priory A priory is a monastery of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or nuns (such as the Dominicans, Augustinians, Franciscans, and Carmelites), or monasteries of ...

, which was established under its own abbot on 22 January 1943. The basilica and abbey now have the government status of a

national monument A national monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of importance to national heritage, such as a country's founding, independence, war, or the life and death of a historical figure. The term may also refer to a spe ...

and operate under the authority of the Superintendent of Monuments and Civil Heritage.

Interior

The church has a layout of a Latin cross with the main axis from east to west. At long and wide, the Basilica of Santa Giustina is the seventh largest in Italy. The facade is enhanced by expanse of the

, which it overlooks. There are three main chapels. The presbytery with the choir, and the two chapels for saints Luke and

Matthew Matthew may refer to: * Matthew (given name) * Matthew (surname) * ''Matthew'' (ship), the replica of the ship sailed by John Cabot in 1497 * ''Matthew'' (album), a 2000 album by rapper Kool Keith * Matthew (elm cultivar), a cultivar of the Chi ...

that form the transepts. Each has a semicircular apse and are flanked by two chapels. Each aisle has six smaller chapels, square plan. The 26 pillars supporting the roof domes, each dome is set directly on the barrel vaults. The central bays are covered by eight domes covered with lead: the central one, with the lantern, is almost high and is topped by a statue of copper depicting Santa Giustina, about high. The floor of the basilica was laid between 1608 and 1615 on geometric design, with yellow, white and red marble. There are many pieces of Greek marble, from the Basilica Opilionea.

Left Nave

;Capella di San Giacomo The first chapel is dedicated to Saint James the Less. The altar is in polychrome stones in the style of the Corbarelli family of the seventeenth century. The white marble altarpiece shows an oil on canvas by Carlo Caliari: ''Martyrdom of Saint James''. ;Capella di San Gregorio Magno The second chapel is dedicated to

Pope Gregory I Pope Gregory I ( la, Gregorius I; – 12 March 604), commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great, was the bishop of Rome from 3 September 590 to his death. He is known for instigating the first recorded large-scale mission from Rome, the Gregoria ...

. The 19th-century altar is mainly built with African green marble and Carrara white marble, framing a polychrome stone marquetry; The stonework was performed by the Corbarelli family. The altarpiece is an 18th-century oil on canvas depicting ''Pope Gregory I invokes the aid of the Virgin to end the plague in Rome'' by

Sebastiano Ricci Sebastiano Ricci (1 August 165915 May 1734) was an Italian painter of the late Baroque school of Venice. About the same age as Piazzetta, and an elder contemporary of Tiepolo, he represents a late version of the vigorous and luminous Cortonesq ...

. Ricci's work replaced an initial painting by Carlo Cignani. Santa Giustina (Padua) - Left nave – Chapel of St. James the Less.jpg, Capella di San Giacomo Santa Giustina (Padua) - Left nave – Chapel of St. James the Less – Altar in polychrome stones.jpg, Altar in polychrome stone Santa Giustina (Padua) - Martyrdom of St. James the Less by Carlo Caliari.jpg, ''Martyrdom of St James the Less'' Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of St. Gregory the Great.jpg, Chapel to

Santa Giustina (Padua) - Left nave – Chapel of St. Gregory the Great – Altar in polychrome stones.jpg, Altar in polychrome stone Santa Giustina (Padua) - St. Gregory the Great by Sebastiano Ricci.jpg, Altarpiece by Ricci ;Cappella di san Daniele Levita The third chapel is dedicated to

Daniel of Padua Saint Daniel of Padua (died 168 AD) is venerated as the deacon of Saint Prosdocimus, the first Bishop of Padua. Said to have been of Jewish extraction, he aided Prosdocimus, who evangelized northeastern Nava. Daniel was later martyred. Danie ...

. The altar is characterized by the use of red marble from France and the marbles of Carrara and Padua; the altarpiece depicts the ''Martyrdom of St Daniel'' (1677) by Antonio Zanchi. The altar is the work of the brothers Corbarelli. ;Cappella di san Placido The fourth chapel is dedicated to Saint Placidus Martyr. The oil on canvas altarpiece depicts the ''Martyrdom of Saint Placidus and companions'' (1676) by

Luca Giordano Luca Giordano (18 October 1634 – 3 January 1705) was an Italian late-Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Fluent and decorative, he worked successfully in Naples and Rome, Florence, and Venice, before spending a decade in Spain. Earl ...

. Note the refined decoration of the Corbarelli family inlaid with polychrome stone behind the altar. Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of St. Daniel of Padua.jpg, Chapel of St. Daniel of Padua Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of St. Daniel of Padua - Martyrdom of Saint Daniel by Antonio Zanchi.jpg, ''Martyrdom of Saint Daniel'' Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of St. Placidus.jpg, Chapel of St. Placidus Santa Giustina (Padua) - Martyrdom of St. Placidus by Luca Giordano.jpg, ''Martyrdom of Saint Placidus and companions'' by Giordano ; Cappella di san Mauro The fifth chapel is dedicated to

Saint Maurus Maurus (french: Maur; it, Mauro) was the first disciple of Benedict of Nursia (512–584). He is mentioned in Gregory the Great's biography of the latter as the first oblate, offered to the monastery by his noble Roman parents as a young bo ...

. The altarpiece is in black and white marble from Genoa; The altar of green marble, marble of Genoa, and red marble of France. The altarpiece representing "Saint Maurus invoked by the sick" (1673) by Valentin Le Febvre. ;Cappella di Giuliano martire The sixth chapel is dedicated to Saint Julien. The altar contains the tomb of Saint Julien with his statue (1680) sculpted by Giovanni Comin. The statues of Saints Andrew and Matthew were sculpted by Bernardo Falcone. ; Cappella di santa Felicita The seventh and last chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to Saint Felicity. The chapel houses the monumental altar surmounted by the urn containing the remains of the saint, discovered in 1502 in the Chapel of Saint Prosdocime of Padua. The sculptures are by

Orazio Marinali Orazio Marinali (1643–1720) was an Italian late-Baroque sculptor, active mainly in the Veneto or Venetian mainland. He trained with Josse de Corte. He is best known for over 150 statues produced by him and his studio for the estate and gardens ...

and plays on the colors of white and red marble from France. The statue of the saint in prayer is placed on the urn, on the sides two angels and Saints Mark and Simon. The altar is very refined, decorated by brothers Corbarelli: it represents fountains, gardens and the unfinished façade of the basilica. Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Saint Maurus.jpg, Chapel of

Santa Giustina (Padua) - St. Maurus the Abbot by Valentin Le Fèvre.jpg, "Saint Maurus invoked by the sick" by Valentin Le Febre Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Saint Julian.jpg, Chapel of Saint Julian Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Saint Felicity.jpg, Chapel of Saint Felicity

Left Transept

;Cappella di San Lucca The large chapel was reorganized for the liturgical adaptations implemented in the years of the Second Vatican Council. In the center, a 1313 monument that houses the relics of St.

, commissioned by the Abbot Gualpertino Mussato and originally erected in the Gothic chapel in 1562. The monument is made of serpentine and marble of Verona. It is enriched with eight alabaster panels carved in bas-relief depicting angels and symbols related to the saint. The whole rests on two granite columns, two alabaster spiral columns and the center is placed on a support in Greek marble, representing caryatid angels, supporting the whole. The 16th-century altar, today displaced, served as a base for the monument. A modern wooden choir surrounds the altar. At the top is placed the sixteenth-century version – attributed to Alessandro Bonvicino – of the Virgin Salus Populi Patavini Constantinople. It is framed and supported by the bronze angels of Hamlet Sartori (1960-1961). The Byzantine icon of origin, according to tradition, painted by Saint Luke and brought to Padua to save from the iconoclastic fury of Constantinople, is now in a sanctuary in the monastery. ;Capella Beato Arnaldo da Limena. The chapel is dedicated to Blessed Arnaud Cataneo ( Arnaldo da Limena). The altar was erected in 1681: Bernardo Falcone sculpted the angels and the statue placed above the urn that houses the relics of Blessed Arnaud. The lateral statues of Saints Peter and St Paul are works of

and

Michele Fabris ''A philosopher, head covered'' - Fondazione Querini Stampalia Venice Michele Fabris (1644–8 July 1684) was a Baroque sculptor, born in Hungary, but mainly active in Venice and Padua. A series of busts at the Querini Stampalia Museum, previously ...

. The work of marquetry of polychrome stones of the altar is the work of the Corbarelli family. File:Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Saint Luke.jpg, Chapel of Saint Luke Abbazia di Santa Giustina (St Luc).jpg, Altar and Reliquary of St. Luke the Evangelist Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Saint Luke - Tomb of Luke the Evangelist (front).jpg, Reliquary of St. Luke the Evangelist and transept organ Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Saint Luke - Tomb of Luke the Evangelist (rear).jpg, Reliquary of St. Luke the Evangelist (rear) Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Saint Luke - Madonna of Constantinople Sixteenth-century version.jpg, ''Madonna of Constantinople'' Sixteenth-century version Padova - Santa Giustina - MadonnaCostantinopolitana (Expo -12 Contrasto 25).jpg, 'Madonna of Constantinople'' original version On the large wall on the right, there is a large canvas by Antonio Balestra (1718) depicting the martyrdom of Saints

Cosmas and Damian Cosmas and Damian ( ar, قُزما ودميان, translit=Qozma wa Demyaan; grc-gre, Κοσμᾶς καὶ Δαμιανός, translit=Kosmás kai Damianós; la, Cosmas et Damianus; AD) were two Arab physicians in the town Cyrrhus, and were r ...

. Opposite, on the left wall, ''The Great Massacre of the Innocents'' by Sebastiano Galvano, signed by the mid-sixteenth century. Initially this work was in the church of San Benedetto Novello. Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Saint Luke - Martyrdom of Saints Cosmas and Damian by Antonio Balestra.jpg, ''Martyrdom of Saints Cosmas & Damian'' by Balestra Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Saint Luke - Massacre of the Innocents by Sebastiano Galvano.jpg, ''Massacre of the Innocents'' by Galvano Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Arnaldo da Limena.jpg, Chapel to Blessed Arnaud Cataneo (Arnaldo da Limena)

The Choir

;La cappella del Santissimo Sacramento. The chapel is dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament. Before hosting the Blessed Sacrament, the chapel contained the relics of the Innocent Saints. The ceiling is decorated with frescoes depicting angels and apostles worshiping the Blessed Sacrament. The work is by Sebastiano Ricci made around 1700; It is characterized by the use of the trompe l'oeil. The vault above the altar is occupied by the representation of the Eternal Father, preceded by the Apostles, represented as if placed above the walls of the chapel, and attracted by the Eucharist carried in triumph by An angelic crowd. The altar is a work made in several times in the forties of the seventeenth century. The design is by Lorenzo Bedogni by Pietro Paolo Corbarelli and their sons Simone, Antonio and Francesco around 1656. It was completed in 1674 by Giuseppe Sardi and Josse the Court who fashioned the two angels worshipers while the bronze statues on the Tabernacle were cast Carlo Trabucco (1697). The other sculptures are by Michele and Alessandro Fabris Tremignon. Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of the holy sacrament.jpg, Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of the holy sacrament - Altar.jpg, Chapel to the Blessed Sacrament – altar Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of the holy sacrament - Ceiling.jpg, Chapel to the Blessed Sacrament – ceiling

The choir

It is elevated in relation to the rest of the building and is accessible by a monumental staircase. Below is a large crypt, now a winter chapel. The balustrades are the work of Francesco Contini (1630). On the sides, at the top, niches inside, two busts that ideally represent the two Roman patricians Vitaliano (right) and Opilione (left) works of Giovanni Francesco de Surdis of 1561.

The high altar

Decorated with "Florentine" combining fine inlays of marble on which are placed pieces of mother-of-pearl, coral, lapis lazuli, carnelian, pearls and other precious materials. The delicate work was carried out between 1637 and 1643 by Pietro Paolo Corbarelli designed by Giovan Battista Nigetti, brother of the famous Matteo Nigetti. On 7 October 1627, with great pomp, the body of Saint Justine was placed under the altar. The painting of the altarpiece The martyrdom of Saint Justine by

Paolo Veronese Paolo Caliari (152819 April 1588), known as Paolo Veronese ( , also , ), was an Italian Renaissance painter based in Venice, known for extremely large history paintings of religion and mythology, such as '' The Wedding at Cana'' (1563) and ''T ...

oil on canvas from 1576. Santa Giustina (Padua) - Choir and High Altar.jpg, Choir and High Altar Santa Giustina (Padua) - High Altar.jpg, High Altar Padua (4).jpg, ''The martyrdom of Saint Justine'' by Veronese

''Cappella della Pietà''

The chapel is the work of Genoese artist

Filippo Parodi Filippo Parodi (1630 – 22 July 1702) was an Italian sculptor of the Baroque period, "Genoa's first and greatest native Baroque sculptor". Biography Born in Genoa into a family of sculptors, Parodi developed his facility with wood, then tr ...

in 1689. The artist took charge of the architectural, decorative and sculptural design including the ceiling, adorned by an angelic stucco crowd. In the center is the Pietà, surrounded by two statues of Mary Magdalene and John the Apostle. Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of La Pieta.jpg, Chapel of La Pieta Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of La Pieta - Pieta by Filippo Parodi.jpg, Pieta by

Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of La Pieta - Ceiling.jpg, Ceiling Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of saint Maximus of Padua.jpg, Chapel of saint Maximus of Padua

Right transept

;Chapel of Saint Maxime of Padua The altar houses the tomb containing the remains of the second bishop of Padua, Saint Maximus. The statue group: saint maxime, the angels who hold the insignia of the bishop and saint James is the work of Michele Fabris (1681), while the statue of St. Bartholomew is the result of the scissors of Bernardo Falcone (1682). The altar in marquetry of polychrome stone, is the work of the Corbarelli family. ;Chapel of Saint Matthias The great space is dominated by two imposing canvases: on the right The mission of the Apostles (1631) of Battista Bissoni and Saints Cosmas and Damian saved by the angel (1718) of Antonio Balestra, this one comes from the Church of the Mercy. Below the paintings are the confessionals and a pulpit from the seventeenth century. At the bottom of the chapel is a monument in Greek and African marble where the body of Saint Matthias the Apostle rests. The work is inspired by the reliquary tomb of Saint-Luc which is anterior. It was completed in 1562 by Giovanni Francesco de Surdis who carved the bas-reliefs representing the apostles. Behind the ark opens the door leading to the Martyrs' room. The 15th century vault is decorated in the style of the Renaissance. The bas-reliefs are attributed to the circle of Bartolomeo Bellano. A small alabaster temple with rich ironwork houses a representation of the virgin. Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Saint Matthias.jpg, Chapel of Saint Matthias Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Saint Matthias - Saints Cosmas and Damian saved by the angel (1718) Antonio Balestra.jpg, ''Saints Cosmas and Damian saved by the angel'' (1718) Antonio Balestra Santa Giustina (Padua) - Chapel of Saint Matthias - The mission of the Apostles (1631) by Battista Bissoni.jpg, ''The mission of the Apostles'' (1631) Battista Bissoni Santa Giustina (Padua) - Tomb of Saint Matthias.jpg, Tomb of Saint Matthias

The Corridor of the Martyrs (Il Corridoio dei Martiri)

It is accessible from the right transept. Built in 1564 on the ruins of the ancient abbey church of the Middle Ages, it was designed to allow passage to the Sanctuary of St. Prosdocime of Padua. The corridor, painted in the 16th and 17th centuries, is counter-vaulted and, in the middle, an octagonal space covered by a dome decorated with fresco by

Giacomo Ceruti Giacomo Antonio Melchiorre Ceruti (October 13, 1698 – August 28, 1767) was an Italian late Baroque painter, active in Northern Italy in Milan, Brescia, and Venice. He acquired the nickname Pitocchetto (the little beggar) for his many painti ...

. In the center there is the Well of the Martyrs: built on the orders of the abbot Angelo Sangrino in 1565 above the medieval well (still visible in the basement) which was in the middle of the nave of the original basilica. The octagonal marble of Verona marble and alabaster, is finely worked. A grid allows to see at the bottom the bones of the martyrs of the Diocletian era discovered here in 1269 by Blessed Giacoma. In the west corner a piece of the mosaic decoration that adorned the floor of the opilionea basilica of the sixth century is still visible. At the bottom an altar of the sixteenth century on a painting by Pietro Damini The discovery of the Well of the Martyrs and the miraculous power of the twelve candle count among the best works of the artist. Also visible is a large iron cage, dating back to the Middle Ages, which contained the remains of Saint Luke. The two statues of saints Peter and Paul are the work of Francesco Segala. Santa Giustina (Padua) - Corridor of the Martyrs.jpg, The Corridor of the Martyrs Santa Giustina (Padua) - Corridor of the Martyrs - well.jpg, The Well of the Martyrs Santa Giustina (Padua) - Corridor of the Martyrs - Ceiling.jpg, Fresco by

Santa Giustina (Padua) - Corridor of the Martyrs - Altar with the discovery of the well of martyrs by Pietro Damini 202 x 152 cm .jpg, Altar with ''The Discovery of the Well of Martyrs'' by Pietro Damini Santa Giustina (Padua) - Corridor of the Martyrs - The old cage of St Luc.jpg, The old cage of St Luke

The sanctuary of Prosdocimus

Following the corridor of the Martyrs is the sanctuary of

Prosdocimus Saint Prosdocimus (Prosdecimus) of Padua ( it, Prosdocimo, german: Prosdozimus) (d. November 7, ca. 100 AD) is venerated as the first bishop of Padua. Tradition holds that, being of Greek origin, he was sent from Antioch by Saint Peter the Apost ...

of Padua or Sanctuary of Santa Maria. One of the oldest buildings in Veneto: dated from the 6th century. It is the only preserved vestige of the opilionea basilica. Originally it was a chapel dedicated to the preservation of relics. The space is conceived on the plane of the Greek cross and is characterized by a very elegant awning composed of dome all painted in grotesque in the sixteenth century to replace the original mosaic decoration. It was the burial place of the first bishops of Padua, including the first, St Prosdocime of Padua, whose body rests in the altar of 1564. It consists of a Roman sarcophagus placed on the right (in relation to the " apse). Above the altar is a bas-relief depicting St Prosdocime of Padua in the Roman aristocrat's dating from the 5th century. In front of the apse a pergola, in Greek marble, astonishing work of the sixth century practically intact preserved in the initial position of Iconostase Along the wall of the small entrance hall, remains of frescoes from the twelfth century, decorations from the 16th century. The tympanum of the door of the basilica opilionea of the sixth century. Santa Giustina (Padua) - The Shrine of Saint Prosdocimus.jpg, The sanctuary of Prosdocimus Santa Giustina (Padua) - The Shrine of Saint Prosdocimus - Saint Prosdocimus.jpg, Bas-relief depicting St Prosdocime from the 5th century Santa Giustina (Padua) - The Shrine of Saint Prosdocimus - tomb of Saint Prosdocimus.jpg, Tomb of Saint Prosdocimus Santa Giustina (Padua) - The Shrine of Saint Prosdocimus - Remains of the first building in end of Vth.jpg, The tympanum of the door of the basilica opilionea of the sixth century

Right side of the Nave

;Chapel of sant'Urio The arch placed on top of the altar (1682) contains the remains of Urio who was the guardian priest of the church of Santi Apostoli in Constantinople who saved the relics of St. Luke, St. Matthew, Icon of the Virgin of the iconoclastic fury bearing the whole until Patavium. The statue of Sant'Urio, the angels and the saints Thomas and Thaddeus are by Bernardo Falcone. The work of marquetry in polychromatic stones is by Corbarelli. ;Chapel of the Holy Innocents The chapel built during the first half of the 17th century was originally used for the Blessed Sacrament, which was transferred to one of the apsidal chapels. The present aspect dates from 1675 with the sanctuary for the relics of Saints Innocents (the remains of three victims of Herod). "The disarray of Santa Rachel" is by Giovanni Comin (1690); The two saints: James the Minor and John are attributed to Michele Fabris. The work of marquetry in polychrome stone is by Corbarelli. Santa Giustina (Padua) - Right nave – Cappella di sant'Urio.jpg, Chapel of sant'Urio Santa Giustina (Padua) - Right nave - Chapel of the Holy Innocents.jpg, Chapel of the Holy Innocents ;Chapel of Saint Benedict The altar is erected in black and white marble of Genoa. The table of the altarpiece: Saint Benedict welcomes Saint Placide and Saint Maur by

Palma the Younger Iacopo Negretti (1548/50 – 14 October 1628), best known as Jacopo or Giacomo Palma il Giovane or simply Palma Giovane ("Young Palma"), was an Italian painter from Venice and a notable exponent of the Venetian school. After Tintoretto's death ...

. ;Chapel of Saint Scholastica The columns that support the altar are of

Salò Salò (; la, Salodium) is a town and '' comune'' in the Province of Brescia in the region of Lombardy (northern Italy) on the banks of Lake Garda, on which it has the longest promenade. The city was the seat of government of the Italian Social ...

marble. The painting of the altarpiece depicts 'The Death of Saint Scholastica' is by

in 1674. Santa Giustina (Padua) - Right nave - Chapel of saint Benedict.jpg, Chapel of Saint Benedict Santa Giustina (Padua) - St. Benedict welcomes his disciples, Maurus and Placidus by Palma Il Giovane.jpg, St. Benedict welcomes his disciples, Maurus and Placidus Santa Giustina (Padua) - Right nave - chapel of Saint Scholastica.jpg, Chapel of Saint Scholastica Santa Giustina (Padua) - Death of St. Scholastica by Luca Giordano.jpg, Death of St. Scholastica by Luca Giordano ;Chapel of saint Gerard Sagredo The painting of the altarpiece dated 1674 by

Johann Carl Loth Johann Carl Loth (Baptized 8 August 1632 – 6 October 1698) was a German Baroque painter who spent most of his life in Venice. His name is also rendered as Johann Karl, Karel and, in Italy, Carlotto or Carlo Lotti.Pietro Liberi Pietro (Libertino) Liberi (1605 – 18 October 1687) was an Italian painter of the Baroque era, active mainly in Venice and the Veneto. Biography Liberi was born in Padua, his earliest training was with Alessandro Varotari (''il Padovanino''). ...

;Chaeple of the conversion of St. Paul The table of the altarpiece is attributed to

in collaboration with his students, he represents ''The Conversion of St. Paul''. On the left wall a canvas in a lunette represents the same subject, this work is by Gaspare Diziani formerly in the ''Chiesa delle Terese''. Santa Giustina (Padua) - Right nave - Chapel of saint Gerard Sagredo.jpg, Chapel of saint Gerard Sagredo Santa Giustina (Padua) - Martyrdom of St. Gerard by Carlo Loth.jpg, Martyrdom of St. Gerard by Carlo Loth Santa Giustina (Padua) - Ecstasy of St. Gertrude by Pietro Liberi.jpg, Ecstasy of St. Gertrude by Pietro Liberi Santa Giustina (Padua) - Conversion of St. Paul by school of Veronese.jpg, Conversion of St. Paul by

Santa Giustina (Padua) - Conversion of St. Paul by Gaspare Diziani.jpg, Conversion of St. Paul by Gaspare Diziani

References

External links

Library of Santa Giustina
{{DEFAULTSORT:Santa Giustina, Abbey of Benedictine monasteries in Italy Monasteries in Veneto 17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Church buildings with domes Basilica of Saint Giustina 6th-century establishments in Italy Christian monasteries established in the 10th century Monuments and memorials in Italy 520s establishments