Church of Santa Maria Nuova

Jewel of Renaissance cult.

Renaissance church built in 1942 by Giovanni Delle Rovere.

SANTA MARIA NUOVA - Built in 1492 by Giovanni Della Rovere on a project of the Florentine architect Baccio Pontelli, it is the precious heart of the historic center of Orciano. The entrance of the church is adorned by a precious portal carved in white stone in the shape of a tabernacle, resting on two elegant fluted columns with Corinthian capitals and precious bas-relief friezes, which give the feeling of entering an ancient Greek temple. Although there are no documents on the subject, tradition says that in the design of the portal is the hand of Raphael Sanzio of Urbino. The interior of the church is sober and elegant, with the delicate white plaster and the curious play of blind and open oculi distributed on the dome and vaults; remarkable interest attract the valuable decorations in stucco executed by plasticiatore urbinate Federico Brandani. In 1766 Pope Clement XIII proclaimed the church of Santa Maria Nuova "Basilica Collegiata".