San Terenziano Church

In the heart of Cavriago stands the Church of San Terenziano, a place of worship whose roots lie in the area’s thousand-year history.
The first mention dates back to 17 November 996, when Countess Rolenda, daughter of Hugh of Provence, King of Italy, donated to a certain Paulone a manor, a castle and a chapel dedicated to Saints Eusebius and Terenziano and to the Virgin Mary.
No visible traces of that Ottonian chapel remain today, but archaeological excavations have unearthed significant remains from the subsequent Romanesque phase, mentioned by Pope Innocent II in a document dated 1141.

In 1926, at a depth of less than two metres, the entire right-hand aisle and the apse were discovered, revealing the building’s original form: three naves with east-facing apses, spanning a length of twelve metres.
A section of the northern wall is still visible, with bricks laid in a herringbone pattern, a valuable testament to medieval building techniques.
In the mid-13th century, the chapel had neither a baptismal font nor a cemetery and was officiated by simple clerics.
It was not until the 16th century that the church regained a central role in the community, enriched with altars dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, the Nativity and Saint Lucy.

The present building dates back to the early decades of the 17th century, the result of a radical renovation rather than a new foundation.
Between 1666 and 1668, the inhabitants of Cavriago financed the construction of the bell tower, which still retained its Renaissance style; in 1689, a clock was installed on it ‘for the public’s use’.
During the 18th century, the minor altars were added and, in 1750, the quadrangular choir was transformed into a semicircular apse at the behest of Provost Antonio Boncompagni.
The earthquake of 1818 caused serious damage to the church and the tower, but the restoration work, in addition to reinforcing the structure with steel tie rods, gave the façade the neoclassical elegance that still distinguishes it today.