Pisa | Church of Saint Apollonia

The Church of Sant’Apollonia is located in the heart of Pisa, in the homonymous street. Its origins date back to the 11th century. Over time it has experienced a transformation from Romanesque to Baroque style. The Church still preserves valuable works of art inside.

History and transformations

Originally dedicated to St Peter, the church is first documented in 1116. In the 12th century it was known as San Pietro a Ischia (or ‘ad insula’), while in the late 13th century it became the property of the Galletti family, who undertook a significant renovation in 1277.

The finding of the relic of Saint Apollonia

In 1393, an altar dedicated to St Francis was erected, but it was only in the early 17th century, following the discovery of a relic of St Apollonia under the high altar, that the church was renamed as it is today.

From the Romanesque to the Baroque

The most important transformation took place in 1777, when the Galletti family, having died out in the male line, commissioned the Pisan architect Mattia Tarocchi to completely rebuild the church in the Baroque style, giving it the appearance we can admire today.

Architecture

The façade of the church is distinguished by its slightly concave shape, framed by angular double pilasters and enriched by a central oval window.

The interior is a perfect example of Baroque decoration. The high altar, made of marbled stucco in the late 18th century, is a masterpiece of elegance and refinement. Behind it, the semicircular apse houses an evocative trompe-l’œil fresco by Mattia Tarocchi, depicting a balustrade supported by a canopy, with the figure of St. Peter in the centre and, at the sides, two allegories painted by Giovanni Battista Tempesti.

Artworks

Along the walls of the church, it’s possible to admire four large tempera paintings by Giuseppe Bocchini (1820), which enrich the solemn and artistic atmosphere.