San Giacomo, Baroque church in Orosei, Italy

San Giacomo is a baroque church in Orosei, Sardinia, built with a bright facade in the 18th century as the town's principal parish. The building rises at the top of a wide staircase on Piazza del Popolo, presenting itself as a white stone structure with classical baroque proportions.

The church was consecrated in 1794 and emerged during a period when Orosei thrived as a religious center with numerous chapels and shrines. It reflected the town's strong faith and the church's authority in shaping community identity during the baroque era.

The church is also called "primaziale", a title used for it in Sardinian architectural literature, including the writings of Vico Mossa. Its 18th-century facade stands on the right side of the building, facing the staircase that links the bastioned churchyard to Piazza del Popolo.

The entrance is on the right side of the building: the 18th-century facade acts as a backdrop to the staircase linking the bastioned churchyard to Piazza del Popolo, so the approach is uphill. The church stands on a southwest-facing slope of the basaltic ridge, with flying arches supporting its buttresses. Look for the tall bell tower and the terracotta-tiled domes over the presbytery and side chapels.

The facade visitors see from Piazza del Popolo is a false front: the 18th-century prospect stands on the right side of the building, set as a backdrop to the staircase. Photographs from the 1920s show a shrine for Corpus Domini celebrations beside it, similar to the one still standing at the Chiesa delle Anime.