Concattedrale di San Maurizio

The Concathedral of San Maurizio dominates Porto Maurizio with a neoclassical façade, twin bell towers and a large dome. Gaetano Cantoni designed the church, whose construction began in 1781 and was completed in 1838.

Why it matters

The church was conceived as a monumental expression of Porto Maurizio's eighteenth-century prosperity and as a civic counterpart to the collegiate church of Oneglia across the bay. Its title as a concathedral reflects the Diocese of Albenga-Imperia's two episcopal seats. The building's scale and neoclassical design make it a defining landmark of western Imperia.

What to notice

The façade has twenty-two columns and a fronton bearing statues of San Maurizio, Sant'Etolo and San Secondo, framed by two three-storey bell towers. Inside, the coffered dome illuminates eleven altars and inlaid marble floors. Works include stucco prophets by Brilla, marble apostles by Baguti and a white Christ by the same sculptor, long attributed to Anton Maria Maragliano. A marble statue of San Maurizio, dated 1842, was made by Filadelfo Finelli, a pupil of Canova. The remains of San Leonardo of Porto Maurizio have rested in a chapel here since 1996.

Context and history

Construction began in 1781 under Cantoni's design and concluded in 1838 after interruptions caused by wars and funding difficulties. The new church replaced the medieval parish church on the Parasio hill, which was demolished after the duomo was completed. A local tradition associates San Leonardo with the church's origins: in 1743, he is said to have indicated the site where the future building should stand. He was proclaimed patron of the city in 1991.