Marble lion detail of Church of Santa Giusta, Oristano, Sardinia, Italy
The Cathedral of Santa Giusta is a basilica church in Santa Giusta, province of Oristano, Sardinia, Italy. It is dedicated to St. Giusta who, according to the tradition, was martyrized here at the time of Roman emperor Diocletian. Almost entirely built in sandstone, it is considered one of the most important examples of Sardinian Romanesque architecture. The cathedral was erected in the early 12th century by local and Pisane workers, the latter with experience from the Duomo di Pisa. Some art historian have supposed that another church existed in the site before, but this has not been definitely proven. In the 16th-17th centuries the right wall was demolished to allow creation of two chapels. In 1503 the diocese of Santa Giusta was abolished and annexed to that of Oristano. In 1847 a marble enclosure was built to encircle to the presbytery, while a pulpit was added in 1876. In 1860 the former sail-shaped bell tower crumbled down, and was replaced by a square bell tower in neo-Romanesque style, finished in 1906. The basilica has a façade in undecorated sandstone, with three bays corresponding to the interior's nave and two aisles. The central one has the main portal, surmounted by a triple mullioned window. The façade is topped by a tympanum also divided into three parts, the central one characterized by a lozenge. Near the pilasters flanking the portal are two old columns, whence it has been hypothized that the church was once preceded by a portico or a similar structure.
Size: 5184px × 3456px
Location: Santa Giusta, Oristano, Sardinia, Italy
Photo credit: © Nicola Asuni / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: architecture, attraction, basilica, cathedral, catholic, church, decoration, destinations, diocese, diocletian, duomo, facade, giusta, historian, italia, italy, limestone, marble, neo-romanesque, oristano, outdoors, pisane, portal, portico, religion, religious, roman, romanesque, sail-shaped, sandstone, santa, sardinia, sardinian, statue, tourism, tourist, travel
