Church of St. George, Neoclassical church in Livorno, Italy
The Church of St. George is a neoclassical church building in Livorno characterized by white marble columns at its entrance. The structure features symmetrical proportions and clean geometric lines throughout its design.
Construction of the church began in 1839 to Angiolo della Valle's design and was completed in 1844; it was dedicated to England's patron saint. It served Livorno's Anglican community, which had used the former Jesuit chapel in Venezia Nuova from 1816 to 1836. Damaged in Second World War bombing, it passed to the Misericordia, which restored it and consecrated it for Catholic worship in 1956.
The church is dedicated to Saint George, patron saint of England, and now serves Livorno's Romanian Orthodox community under a concession from the Misericordia. The Misericordia's own patron, Santa Barbara, appears in a painting by Corrado Michelozzi with the Fortezza Vecchia in the background. The large crucifix of the Giustiziati was once carried veiled in processions accompanying condemned prisoners.
The church stands on Via Verdi, in the area of the English cemetery, whose gate faces the building; the entrance is raised on a high stone base above street level. It is now used by the Romanian Orthodox Church, so access depends on that community's services rather than on fixed visiting hours.
The small bell tower on the south side holds three bells, dedicated to Saint Barbara, the Holy Crucifix and Saint Francis — not four. The church also keeps the large old Crucifix of the Condemned, a late-Mannerist work carried veiled in processions accompanying those sentenced to death.
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