Basilica of Sant'Eufemia, Grado

The present basilica stands on a fourth century basilica, of which not much is known. Although some features are still visible. It was ordered built by Elijah, Archbishop of Aquileia, some time in the sixth century, during his retreat from the invasion of the Lombards. After, Elijah proclaimed himself patriarch and dedicated the church to Saint Euphemia.

During the sixth through early seventh century the basilica was the seat of the pro-Roman and pro-Byzantine branch of the church until the formation of the patriarchate of Grado.

Due to the suppression of the Grado patriarchate by the Venetians it lost the title of cathedral in 1451, but shortly after in 1455 the bell tower was built, possibly to compensate for this.

Alterations to the church were made in the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, although these were partly removed in twentieth century restorations.

Much of the fame of the basilica comes from the incredibly well preserved sixth century floor mosaics that decorate the basilica, as it is extremely rare to find the original floor mosaics preserved in an early Christian basilica.

Features from the fourth century basilica are visible in the nave, including a visible fragment of its floor mosaics and a Corinthian capital.

The bell tower is topped with a cast copper weathervane statue of Archangel Michael, which has become a symbol of the city.

The apse is decorated with a thirteenth century Gothic fresco of Christ enthroned.

On the left side of the central nave stands a tall hexagonal pulpit, which is adorned with thirteenth century sculptured decorations.

Next to the basilica complex is an octagonal baptistery which is also adorned with sixth century floor mosaics and contains a large marble dipping basin. The basilica is mostly built from shells mixed with sand.

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  Ambo of the Sant'Eufemia
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  Pulpit of the Basilica
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  Gothic fresco of Jesus, in the apse

• Profile; retrieved 24 February 2016.

• Rentetzi, Efthalia, 2008: Un'inedita figura di pesce. Parentele stilistiche tra i mosaici pavimentali di s. Maria delle Grazie e s. Eufemia a Grado, in Artonweb - Arte - Efthalia Rentetzi: un’inedita figura di pesce

• Bisconti, F., 2000: Temi di Iconografia Paleocristiana. Città del Vaticano
• Bovini, G., 1973: Grado Paleocristiana in Archeologia Cristiana. Bologna
• Farioli, R., 1975: Mosaici Pavimentali dell'alto Adriatico e dell'Africa settentrionale in età bizantina, in Antichità Altoadriatiche, vol. V. (paleocristiana). Ravenna
• Farioli, R., 1975: Pavimenti musivi di Ravenna. Ravenna
• Rentetzi, Efthalia, 2009: Un frammento inedito di S. Eufemia a Grado. Il pavimento musivo del Salutatorium, in Arte Cristiana, n. 850 (January–February) 2009, Vol. XCVII, pp. 51–52
• Trovabene, Giordana, nd: Il salutatorium del vescovo Elia nella cattedrale di Grado : nuove considerazioni sul mosaico pavimentale, in Atti del XV colloquio dell'Associazione Italiana per lo Studio e la Conservazione del Mosaico, pp. 41–52
• Guida rossa: Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Milano: Touring Club editore, 1999, pp. 505–508. ISBN 88-365-0007-2

 

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