San Valentino Parish Church
Address and contacts
Via Rontano, 7 - 42014 Castellarano (RE)
Phone: 0039.0536.854048.
http://www.pievesanvalentino.it/it/
Historical notes
In the apse of the main altar it is possible to admire the precious altarpiece by Benvenuto Tisi, known as "the Garofalo", painted in 1517 on commission from the Sacrati family, feudal lords of San Valentino. The altarpiece, within a wonderful wooden frame, depicts the Virgin Mary seated on a throne with the Child, flanked by Saints Stefano and Eleucadio. On the top of the altarpiece is a smaller painting depicting Christ taken down from the Cross. The work was restored in 1991, therefore it shows the original colours that enhance its beauty.
The façade, decorated with spires, has two rose windows, a large window and a round portal decorated with a terracotta frame with floral motifs. The spire of the bell tower, struck by lightning, was rebuilt in 1947 with a heavy concrete pyramid, not respecting the original one that ended in a spire. In 2010 the restoration work that brought the parish church back to its former glory was completed.