The main churches in Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia is enriched by several churches of considerable historical and architectural importance.

• Cathedral – Duomo: The Cathedral of Reggio Emilia, officially known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, is a magnificent example of Romanesque architecture located in the heart of the city. Built in the 12th century, it features a majestic facade decorated with sculptures and reliefs, including the famous central rose window. Inside the cathedral, medieval frescoes and works of art contribute to the atmospheric atmosphere.

• Basilica della Beata Vergine della Ghiara e Chiostri della Ghiara: The Basilica of the Blessed Virgin of Ghiara in Reggio Emilia is a significant place of worship, also known as the Shrine of Our Lady of Ghiara. Built between the 16th and 17th centuries, it features a Baroque style and the facade is decorated with sculptures and ornamental details. The interior of the basilica is rich in works of art, including paintings, frescoes and decorated altars. The Cloisters of the Ghiara in Reggio Emilia are an architectural complex known for their elegance and serenity. Built in the 16th century, they are an integral part of the complex of the Basilica of the Blessed Virgin of the Ghiara. These Renaissance cloisters feature a portico with rounded arches supported by columns, creating an atmospheric and tranquil setting.

• Basilica of S. Prospero: The Basilica of San Prospero in Reggio Emilia is an important place of worship located in the city's historic center. Built in Gothic and Renaissance style, the basilica has an imposing facade and a tall bell tower that dominates the city skyline. The interior of the basilica is remarkable for its majesty, with soaring columns, frescoes, and Baroque decoration. The focal point is the mausoleum of St. Prospero, patron saint of the city, located in the apse. The mausoleum is a masterpiece of sculpture and is one of the basilica's main artistic treasures.

• Chiesa di Santo Stefano: St. Stephen's Church dates back to the medieval period and has undergone several transformations over the centuries. Its present structure features elements of different architectural styles, including Romanesque and Gothic elements. The facade may feature carved decorations, ogival windows, and other details characteristic of these historical periods. Inside St. Stephen's Church, you can find artwork, frescoes, altars, and sculptures that testify to the rich artistic and religious history of the region. The aisles can be decorated with columns, arches and vaulted ceilings, creating a striking and sacred atmosphere.

• Chiesa del Cristo: A true Baroque jewel, built to preserve a fresco of the Most Holy Crucifix, painted in oil on plaster by an anonymous Reggio Emilia artist during the plague of 1630-31. The scenic facade, whose portal is surmounted by a shaped window with balustrade and three marble statues by Veronese sculptor Angelo Finali, is interesting. The interior consists of a single room, enriched by balustrades and elegant stucco. The altar, in 19th-century stucco, is the work of the Tondelli workshop. The latest restoration in 2018, by architect Paolo Bedogni, involved the facade and brought back its original colors.

• Chiesa di S. Pietro: St. Peter's Church is a Catholic place of worship, located on Via Emilia San Pietro in the historic center of Reggio Emilia, adjacent to the Benedictine convent complex known as the "Cloisters of St. Peter." Characterized by a Romanesque architectural style, the church dates back to the medieval period and has undergone several modifications over the centuries. Its facade may feature carved elements and typical Romanesque decorations. The sacred images that adorn the side chapels date, almost all of them, to the time when the building was opened for worship; therefore, they present a remarkable stylistic unity, despite the differences due to the different artists who worked on them.

• Chiostri Benedettini di San Pietro: The Cloisters of San Pietro are Reggio Emilia's most extraordinary monumental complex, one of the most striking of the Italian Renaissance, with a form that bears the unmistakable hand of Giulio Romano. It is an ancient monastery that was used over the centuries in a variety of ways and then remained inaccessible, in the city's historic center, until it was rediscovered and publicly restored. Built in the 16th century to house a convent of Benedictine monks, the complex included two cloisters: a small one and a larger one. Recent restoration has sought to restore the complex to its original form, and today the Cloisters are often used for exhibitions and events.

• Chiesa di Sant’Agostino: An ancient church founded in the 8th century and remodeled over time, its interior features one of three surviving paintings by the well-known Ferrara painter Guercino. The Church of St. Augustine in Reggio Emilia features architecture that reflects the influences of the Renaissance period. The church is dedicated to St. Augustine, one of the Fathers of the Church and a Christian philosopher. On the outside, the facade may feature Renaissance elements, such as carved decorations and Classical-style windows. The interior of the church houses works of art, frescoes, and altars that testify to the rich religious and artistic history of the area.