Church of San Sebastiano

Church dedicated to the memory of those who died in the Great War 1915 – 18.

Explaination: The building of the church dates back to 1506-07 upon project of the maestro Lamberto Galvani of Castel Bolognese and was consecrated on the 18th May 1508 by the Bishop of Imola, Simone Bonadies.This building has arrived to the present day practically in tact, as the restoration works that took place during the centuries, the last of which ten years ago, did not touch upon its simplicity and pureness of shape. Around the church, as was the intention of its founders, there was supposed to be a place for ofrefuge for those stricken by the plague. At the beginning of the 17th century, the external walls were painted red and between 1612 and 1674 several renovations were made.The church was dedicated to Saints Sebastiano and Rocco: the former worshipped at the main altar and the latter at the second altar on the right. Perhaps there was originally a table depicting the two owners of the church, then substituted by a fresco, still existing today, painted between 1532-34 that represents La Vergine in trono conbambino e i Ss. Giuseppe, Sebastiano, Filippo Benizzi e Rocco (the Virgin on the throne with child and saints Joseph, Sebastian, Filippo Benizzi and Rocco), the work of Girolamo da Treviso il Giovane. A small belfry rises above the church to the east of the main altar and up until not long ago was the only bell originating from Palazzo Pretorio and melted in 1335 (today preserved in the Civil Museum). There was also a rectory that became a refuge for bandits and was therefore destroyed at the end of the17th century. The church was closed to worship in 1865 and leased as a warehouse, remaining in a state of neglect for sixty years. In 1924 it was bought by cav. Francesco Gottarelli who put it in the hands of the Municipality for its restoration and re-consecration to the memory of those who died in the Great War of 1915-18.The outside of the church is in face brick and has the side walls pronounced by the imposts of the altars and the corner and middle pilasters; the well proportioned façade, where the portal opens (the work of the Casalini brothers) with its rose window has a series of five small symmetrical arches and a cross in cotto. The interior has a nave with vaulted ceiling and cotto floors. In the cupola there are the frescoes I quattro Evangelisti e l’Agnello (the four evangelists and the lamb) of the Romagnolo school, whilst above the main altar there is the already mentioned fresco. There is a remarkable wrought iron railing the work of the Faentine Luigi Matteucci and marble tomb stones with the names of the victims of war.