Outside
and inside the present church of San Canio |
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| SAN
CANIO (SAINT CANIO) |
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The church of San Canio, named after the early martyrs
Cosmas and Damian, was already in existence in the
8th century within the castle walls. In 799 it became
the official home of San Canio's relics. In 1547 a
larger church was built in its place, at public expense.
Ruined by the earthquake of 1694, its reconstruction
was begun and completed in 1747. When at a later date
it was found to be unsafe due to a landslide, it was
repaired and reopened for public worship in 1840. |
| In
1882, because of the same landslide, it was decided
to demolish the edifice. Piles of stones from the
old church were moved to a location named “largo
Croce,” where the new church was built in the
early 1930s. After World War II, in 1965, it was enlarged
with the addition of two naves. Damaged again by the
earthquake of 1980, it was rebuilt in 1993, when it
was reopened for worship. |
| Besides
the main altar of inlaid marble of the 18th century,
one can admire valuable paintings of the 18th century
on the altars and walls of the lateral naves (The
Apotheosis of San Canio, The Adoration of the Most
Holy Sacrament, Our Lady with the Christ Child, the
Presentation at the Temple, and Our Lady of the Assumption). |
| At
the end of the side naves are two altars: one contains
a statue of the Sacred Heart; the other, the statue
of the patron saint, San Canio. |
| The
aforesaid art works are from the ancient Mother-Church,
originally built in the ancient part of town and,
as already stated, demolished in 1883. |
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