Chiesa del suffragio, church building in Ferrara, Italy
Chiesa del Suffragio is a church building in Ferrara built in 1750 with a simple brick facade, but its interior features extensive baroque decoration. The single nave contains two side altars adorned with paintings and detailed stucco work, while the ceiling displays frescoes by local artists and a mechanical organ from 1551 in its original Renaissance wooden case.
This church replaced a 1623 oratory founded by priest Giuliano Tomasi, with the current building completed in 1750 based on a design by Gaetano Barbieri. A major restoration in 1964 uncovered the apse and refreshed the baroque interior decorations that remain visible today.
The church houses a painting called Madonna della Racchetta, which originally hung on a house in the nearby Via della Racchetta and has been kept here since 1808. This artwork depicts Mary with the dead Christ and reflects how this place has served as a spiritual center for the community over time.
The church is located at Via San Romano 64 in Ferrara's medieval quarter and is most accessible during morning weekday masses around 8:15 am. Visiting on a regular weekday or during the first Saturday service of the month works well, as these are community-oriented times when the space welcomes visitors.
The organ was crafted in 1551 by Giovanni Cipri and originally came from the nearby S. Antonio in Polesine monastery before being installed here in its ornate Renaissance wooden case. This rare mechanical instrument with only forty-five keys and nine pedals continues to function and represents an exceptional surviving example of Renaissance craftsmanship.
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