CHURCH AND CONVENT OF SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI

Just outside the ancient walls of Busseto, on the southwestern edge of the town, stands the monumental complex of the Church and Convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli, one of the most significant examples of late Gothic religious architecture in the Fiume Po Valley. It was commissioned in the 15^th century by Marquis Orlando Pallavicino “The Magnificent” and built between 1470 and 1474 by his sons, Gianludovico and Pallavicino, in accordance with the ideals of Franciscan spirituality.

The church, with its three naves and polygonal apses, is both austere and elegant. Its facade, built in Lombard brick, evokes the simplicity of the friars’ robes. Inside, a sense of calm harmony prevails: pointed arches, ribbed vaults, measured proportions, and modest materials create an intimate and contemplative atmosphere. It feels like a “covered meadow,” as envisioned by the Franciscans, a space that is open, accessible, and almost domestic, where one can feel at peace.

Among the many artworks housed here, the most celebrated is the Lamentation over the Dead Christ by Guido Mazzoni (1476–1477), a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture in Emilia. Eight life-size figures in polychrome terracotta surround the body of Christ, portrayed with extraordinary emotional intensity and psychological realism. Tradition holds that the two kneeling male figures bear the likenesses of the Pallavicino brothers, patrons of the work. Giuseppe Verdi knew this church well: as a boy, he often visited it, and on January 6^th, 1836, he performed a highly attended organ concert here during a time of local controversy. It is not hard to imagine that the composed yet powerful drama of this sculpture left a lasting impression on the young composer’s imagination. Alongside Mazzoni’s masterpiece are other valuable works: a fragmentary fresco by Nicolò dell’Abate, a painting by Antonio Campi, a 17^th-century canvas by Clemente Ruta, and numerous side chapels adorned with frescoes, stuccoes, and devotional furnishings. The adjacent Franciscan convent, with its cloister, frescoed refectory, and monastic quarters, still evokes the simple, industrious life of the friars who once lived there.