OPEN SACRISTY (CATHEDRAL’S TREASURE)

OPEN SACRISTY (CATHEDRAL’S TREASURE)
Via Liutprando
Friday and Saturday 9.00am-12.00am/3.00pm-6.00pm
Sunday 3.00pm-6.00pm
www.cittaecattedrali.it
The visit to the treasure (Open Sacristy) of the Cathedral of Saint Evasio, with entrance at the ticket offi ce – bookshop in Via Liutprando,
starts from the deambulatory. On its walls, the 19th century restoration by architect Edoardo Arborio Mella, put sculptures of the 12th-16th
centuries and parts of the ancient Romanesque cathedral mosaic fl ooring which dates back to the 12th century and represents episodes from the Holy Scripture, scenes of everyday life and imaginary characters. In the Bishop’s Corridor there are silver and gold works, which belonged to the different bishops. The collection of 18th- 20th century pectoral crosses and episcopal rings is extremely remarkable. A passage with a beautiful sacristy marble basin leads to the present Sacristy, where the simple architectural lines are enriched by the wooden furniture, by the paintings on the walls, by the statues and
the low reliefs which come from the 16th century altar of Saint Evasio. In the apse we can find the Cross of Teodoro Paleologo, who donated it
to the Cathedral in 1466. A little door leads to the bell tower, the Cathedral old Sacristy, where religious furnishings of the cathedral, gold works and textile manufactures are displayed inside wooden closets. Some important examples are the silver and crystal reliquary of Saint Margherita from Antiochia’s foot (4th century), the reliquary of Anna d’Alençon‘s Cross (15th-16th century), made of partially gilded silver and Pio V’s chasuble (16th century). Through a narrow corridor we get to the Chapel of Saint Evasio (designed by Alfi eri), with the Saint’s urn. From
the deambulatory ,going up a steep 19th century stairway, we can start the archeologic trail of the garrets (open on the second Sunday every
month or on reservation calling 0142-451617) where a long walkway twists and turns on the vault extrados of the cathedral southern side,
revealing medieval walls. A striking stairway carved in the walls leads to the matroneum in the narthex where you can admire the sculptures
on the capitals and on the arched lintels.
From here, a winding staircase in the right steeple leads back to the Cathedral entrance.