View source for Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata

{{Short description|Church in Parma, Italy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
[[File:Madonna della Steccata.jpg|thumb|Shrine of Santa Maria della Steccata.]]
The '''Shrine of Santa Maria della Steccata''' is a Greek-cross design [[Renaissance]] church in central [[Parma]], Italy. The name derives from the fence (Italian: ''steccato'') in the church. A [[Nursing Madonna]] is enshrined within, crowned on 27 May 1601 by a Marian devotee, Fray Giacomo di Forli of the [[Capuchin order]]. [[Pope Benedict XVI]] raised the Marian sanctuary to the status of [[Basilica minor]] on 9 February 2008.
==History==
[[File:Madonna allattante .jpg|thumb|175px|The [[Nursing Madonna]] enshrined and crowned by Jeronimo (Girolamo) Paolucci di Calboldi di Forli on 27 May 1601. ]]
By 1492, the [[Knights of Malta]] built a small oratory here to house a putatively miraculous icon depicting [[Saint John the Baptist]]. It became associated with a religious confraternity in a neighboring house that had the image of the ''[[Madonna and Child]]'', mentioned above, on the facade. Rumors of miracles performed by this image led to masses flocking to the site. This required the erection of a picket fence or stockade (''steccato'') around the icon, hence giving the image its name.
The Papal bull dated 1 March 1493 by [[Pope Alexander VI]] mentions the image by this name.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=DOQYAAAAYAAJ La patria; geografia dell' Italia], Provincie di Parma e Piacenza, edited by Gustavo Chiesi, Luigi Borsari, Giuseppe Isidoro Arneudo, Turin (1902), page 30.</ref> The popularity of the icons led the frescoed icon to be detached from a wall and moved to the oratory, and when that proved too small to accommodate the crowds, the commune of Parma patronized the construction of the church (1521—1539).<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=x519UvWjvh0C Emilia Romagna], by Touring Club Italiano (1991): page 498.</ref>
==Architecture==
The architects were [[Bernardino Zaccagni]] and his son, Giovanni Francisco, with modifications by [[Gian Francesco d'Agrate]], who also worked on the statuary gracing the roof-line. The dome (1526—1527) is attributed to Agrate, although with the help by [[Antonio da Sangallo the Younger]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=x519UvWjvh0C Emilia Romagna], by Touring Club Italiano (1991): page 498.</ref> The church was finally consecrated in 1539. The sacristy was rebuilt over the following centuries.<ref>[http://www.santuari.it/steccata/menustoria.asp Story of construction]</ref>
The layout is that mainly of a centralized ''[[Greek Cross]]'' church with four arms, although the entrance elongates through an arch to form the ''Coro dei Cavallieri''. In the crossing is the majestic dome. Each arm has a half-dome, while between the arms are four corner chapels.
==Internal decor==
[[File:Santa Maria della Steccata (Parma) - Dome.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Bernardino Gatti]], ''Assumption of Mary''.]]
The interior was decorated by prominent artists, both local and foreign to Parma over the following centuries after completion of the building.
The tribune has a [[Baroque]] altar in the choir was begun by [[Mauro Oddi]] and completed in 1758-1765 by Andrea and Domenico della Meschina. The main altarpiece displays the famous icon inside a gilded frame replete with cherubs and putti and a gilded crown; the ensemble flanked by two King [[Solomonic columns]] flanked by two pillars. At the base are two statues, Saint Joseph and King David, sculpted by Francesco and Giovanni Baratta. In the hemicycle above the altar, is a large fresco depicting a ''Coronation of the Virgin with Saints'' (1541), painted by [[Michelangelo Anselmi]].<ref>[http://www.santuari.it/steccata/incoronazionep10.asp Anselmi fresco]</ref> He also painted the adjacent ceiling fresco depicting the ''Adoration of the Magi''. Behind the altar is a semicircle of wooden choir stalls.
In the sacristy and sanctuary, many of the fresco figures and decorations were painted or planned by a young [[Parmigianino]],<ref>[http://www.santuari.it/steccata/davidp12.asp Parmigianino frescoes]</ref> whilst the church also houses c.1523 two oil on canvas paintings by him of ''Saint Cecilia'' and ''King David'', both originally intended as organ doors.
Other artists include [[Bernardino Gatti]], who frescoed parts of the ceiling. The Dutch painter [[Jan Soens]] painted a ''Holy Family''. [[Giambettino Cignaroli]] painted a ''Trinity with Saints Niccolò, Basilius, and Gregory''. A somewhat retrograde mannerist ''Madonna and Bambino, with Saints Joseph & George'' was painted by [[Marcantonio Franceschini]] in 1718. A mannerist ''Redeemer with St. Anthony of Padua and the Magdalen'' was painted by [[Girolamo Mazzola Bedoli]], based on a commission from 1605 for the price of 60 ducats and 76 soldi.<ref>[http://www.santuari.it/steccata/redentorep26.asp Mazzola Bedoli] painting</ref>  The Parmesan painter [[Aurelio Barili]] painted frescoes in 1588.
The church contains funeral monuments of [[Bertrando Rossi]], [[Ottavio Farnese]], [[Sforzino Sforza]], and [[Adam Albert von Neipperg]] (by [[Lorenzo Bartolini]]).
==Dukes of Parma==
In the crypt are the tombs of twenty-six members of the [[House of Farnese|Farnese family]] including [[Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma]] and his wife [[Infanta Maria of Guimarães|Infanta Maria of Portugal]]. Also the later (titular) [[Duke of Parma and Piacenza|Dukes of Parma and Piacenza]] (of the [[House of Bourbon-Parma]]) found here their final resting place. In a niche is a crystal urn containing the heart of [[Charles III, Duke of Parma]].
On 28 August 2010, the body of [[Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma]], former Head of the House of Bourbon-Parma between 1977 and 2010 and ex-husband of [[Princess Irene of the Netherlands]], was interred in the crypt.<ref>[http://www.rkk.nl/actualiteit/2010/detail_objectID714974_FJaar2010.html Bisschop Bär concelebreert in uitvaartmis Carlos Hugo] - website [[Rooms-Katholiek Kerkgenootschap]] ''(in [[Dutch language|Dutch]])''</ref>
On 29 September 2012, Carlos Hugo's granddaughter, Princess Luisa of Bourbon-Parma, second child of [[Carlos, Duke of Parma]], was baptised at the church.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}
In 2021 and 2022, [[Princess María Teresa of Bourbon-Parma]] and [[Princess Cécile Marie of Bourbon-Parma]] were buried there, respectively.
== Burials ==
=== House of Farnese ===
* [[Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma|Duke Ottavio I Farnese]] (1524–1586), second [[Duke of Parma and Piacenza]];
* [[Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma|Duke Alexander I Farnese]] (1545–1592), third [[Duke of Parma and Piacenza]];
* [[Maria of Portugal, Hereditary Princess of Parma|Infanta Maria of Portugal]] (1538–1577), wife of Alexander Farnese, Crown Princess consort of Parma and Piacenza;
* [[Margherita Farnese|Princess Margherita Farnese]] (1567–1643), daughter of Alexander I Farnese, Princess of Parma and Piacenza; Hereditary Princess of Mantua by marriage;
* [[Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma|Duke Ranuccio I Farnese]] (1569–1622), fourth [[Duke of Parma and Piacenza]];
* [[Margherita Aldobrandini|Princess Margherita Aldobrandini]] (1588–1646), wife of Ranuccio I Farnese, [[List of Parmese consorts|Duchess consort of Parma and Piacenza]];
* [[Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma|Duke Odoardo I Farnese]] (1612–1646), fifth [[Duke of Parma and Piacenza]];
* [[Margherita de' Medici|Princess Margherita de' Medici of Tuscany]] (1612–1679), wife of Odoardo I Farnese, [[List of Parmese consorts|Duchess consort of Parma and Piacenza]];
* [[Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma|Duke Ranuccio II Farnese]] (1630–1694), sixth [[Duke of Parma and Piacenza]];
* [[Princess Margaret Yolande of Savoy]] (1635–1663), first wife of Ranuccio II Farnese, [[List of Parmese consorts|Duchess consort of Parma and Piacenza]];
* [[Isabella d'Este, Duchess of Parma|Princess Isabella d'Este of Modena]] (1635–1666), second wife of Ranuccio II Farnese, [[List of Parmese consorts|Duchess consort of Parma and Piacenza]];
* [[Maria d'Este|Princess Maria d'Este of Modena]] (1644–1684), third wife of Ranuccio II Farnese, [[List of Parmese consorts|Duchess consort of Parma and Piacenza]];
* Prince Pietro Farnese (1639–1677), son of Odoardo I Farnese, Prince of Parma and Piacenza;
* [[Margherita Maria Farnese|Princess Margherita Maria Farnese]] (1664–1718), daughter of Ranuccio II Farnese, Princess of Parma and Piacenza; [[List of Modenese consorts|Duchess consort of Modena and Reggio]] by marriage;
* [[Odoardo Farnese, Hereditary Prince of Parma|Prince Odoardo Farnese]] (1666–1693), son of Ranuccio II Farnese, Crown Prince of Parma and Piacenza;
* [[Countess Palatine Dorothea Sophie of Neuburg]] (1670–1748), wife of Crown Prince Odoardo Farnese, Crown Princess consort of Parma and Piacenza; she remarried [[Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma|Duke Francesco I Farnese]], [[List of Parmese consorts|Duchess consort of Parma and Piacenza]];
* Prince Alexander Ignazio Farnese (1691–1693), son of Crown Prince Odoardo Farnese, Prince of Parma and Piacenza;
* Princess Vittoria Farnese (1672–1672), daughter of Ranuccio II Farnese, Princess of Parma and Piacenza;
* Princess Caterina Farnese (1672–1672), daughter of Ranuccio II Farnese and twin of Vittoria Farnese, Princess of Parma and Piacenza;
* Princess Eleonora Farnese (1675–1675), daughter of Ranuccio II Farnese, Princess of Parma and Piacenza;
* [[Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma|Duke Francesco I Farnese]] (1678–1727), seventh [[Duke of Parma and Piacenza]];
* [[Antonio Farnese, Duke of Parma|Duke Antonio I Farnese]] (1679–1731), eighth [[Duke of Parma and Piacenza]];
=== House of Bourbon-Parma ===
* [[Philip, Duke of Parma|Duke Philip I of Parma]] (1720–1765), twelfth [[Duke of Parma and Piacenza]], first [[Duke of Guastalla]];
* Prince Philip Maria of Parma (1783–1786), son of [[Ferdinand, Duke of Parma|Duke Ferdinand I of Parma]], Prince of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla;
* Princess Maria Antonietta Luisa of Parma (1784–1785), daughter of [[Ferdinand, Duke of Parma|Duke Ferdinand I of Parma]], Princess of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla;
* Princess Maria Luisa of Parma (1787–1789), daughter of [[Ferdinand, Duke of Parma|Duke Ferdinand I of Parma]], Princess of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla;
* Princess Maria Enrichetta of Parma (1788–1799), daughter of [[Ferdinand, Duke of Parma|Duke Ferdinand I of Parma]], Princess of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla;
* [[Charles III, Duke of Parma|Duke Charles III of Parma]] (1823–1854), sixteenth [[Duke of Parma and Piacenza]];
* [[Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma|Duke Carlos IV of Parma]] (1930–2010), twenty-third Duke of Parma and Piacenza (titular);
* [[Princess María Teresa of Bourbon-Parma|Princess Marie Thérèse of Parma]] (1933–2020), sister of Carlos IV, Princess of Parma and Piacenza;
* [[Princess Cécile Marie of Bourbon-Parma|Princess Cécile Marie of Parma]] (1935–2021), sister of Carlos IV, Princess of Parma and Piacenza.
==See also==
*[[:Category:Burials at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata]]
==References==
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[[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1539]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Parma]]
[[Category:Renaissance architecture in Parma]]
[[Category:Burials at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata]]
[[Category:Basilica churches in Emilia-Romagna]]
[[Category:Burial sites of the House of Bourbon-Parma]]
[[Category:1539 establishments in Italy]]
[[Category:Church buildings with domes]]
[[Category:Paintings by Parmigianino]]
[[Category:16th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy]]
[[Category:Burial sites of the House of Farnese]]