Chiesa San Gregorio

Elegant and sober cultural centre, it still bears the traces of its past: place of worship and protagonist during the wars. History was here.

Chiesa di San Gregorio was built in the borough with the same name, on the site of a previous church commissioned in 1331 and built in 1345 by the brotherhood known as Confraternita dei Battuti to support the patients of the nearby hospital. Initially dedicated to Saint Mary of Mercy, then to Madonna and Saint Gregory, and finally only to Saint Gregory from 1437, it was entirely refurbished and expanded in 1514 as per a project by Bernardino da Portogruaro. In March 1524, the main altar dedicated to Saint Gregory and a side altar dedicated to Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian were consecrated, as stated by the writing on the left wall of the apse.

The current shape of the building results from many expansions and refurbishments, which can be retraced in its different architectural styles. The interior features an interesting architectural solution: the 15^th-century spatiality can be detected in the single nave, which is completed by the volumes of the Renaissance- style apse and dome. The external façade is made of bricks and characterized by a portal and a triumphal arch in Istrian stone in Renaissance style. Fragments of frescoes can also be found on the walls representing the coat of arms of the city and Saint James inside a Renaissance niche; the floor houses some tombstones of ancient local noble families.

The bell tower dates back to the 17^th century, although its construction was interrupted several times. The side altars and sacristy are more recent.

The building is now owned by the City Council and, together with the adjoining Ospitale, it creates San Gregorio complex, an important cultural centre which serves as a reference for concerts, meetings, shows and exhibitions.