Spezia’s ancient church gives onto the piazza Beverini. Little remains of the original structure, after the reconstruction works that took place after World War Two. Mentioned for the first time in 1343, it was adopted by the local parish in 1432. Between the 15th and 16th century, the church was expanded and adorned with a Biassa sandstone façade. Its importance increased in 1734, when it was declared a collegiate church, and in 1929 it was officially declared a cathedral. It maintained this status until the Cristo Re Cathedral was built.
Given its central location, the church houses many famous works of art, such as Domenico Fiasella’s "L’Assunta", Angiolo del Santo’s statue of San Giuseppe and the sarcophagus of Baldassarre Biassa. A glazed piece of earthenware depicting the "Coronation of the Vergine di Andrea della Robbia, a Casoni tapestry depicting "La moltiplicazione dei pani", and Luca Cambiaso’s "Il martirio di San Bartolomeo" were all recovered from the former Francescan convent when it was torn down to make room for the construction of the naval dockyard. The 15th century chapel boasts a valuable Crucifix of the same era, which was recovered from the now demolished church of San’Antonio.

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La Spezia churches