Rotonda Antonelliana, 19th century religious building in Castellamonte, Italy.
The Rotonda Antonelliana is a circular building from the 19th century in Castellamonte made of stone from the Orco river and red bricks forming a distinctive round shape. The enclosed interior space is defined by high perimeter walls that create a sheltered circular courtyard.
Construction started in 1842 as an ambitious plan to rival St Peter's Basilica in Rome but ran out of funds and was abandoned in 1846. The building remained incomplete, and the remaining walls stand today as a fragment of that failed effort.
The interior houses a neo-Gothic parish church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, which was inserted into the circular space and designed by architect Luigi Formento. Visitors can see how this sacred space blends with the original round structure, creating an interesting layering of two different religious visions.
The circular space inside hosts various public events throughout the year, including the annual Ceramics Exhibition of Castellamonte. Visit during event times to see the venue in active use, or explore the structure itself when exhibitions are not taking place.
The existing walls represent only about one-third of what was originally planned, which would have made it one of Northern Italy's largest religious structures. This incomplete state gives the place a peculiar character, allowing visitors to feel the gap between ambition and reality.
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