Piazza Pertinace è uno dei punti più interessanti del centro storico di Alba. Qui, di fronte ad alcuni edifici storici medioevali, tra cui il Castellaccio, e ai resti del Tempio Romano si trova la Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista.
Questo edificio religioso di origini medioevali è, dopo la Cattedrale, quello più antico della città.
Costruito tra il VII ed il VIII secolo, subì diversi rimaneggiamenti fino ad assumere le forme seicentesche attuali.
Nel 1556 venne concesso in uso all'ordine degli Agostinianiche ne invertirono l’orientamento dell’asse longitudinale.
Nel 1700 vennero aggiunti una bussola sul campanile e un orologio che, durante l’invasione napoleonica, fu trasferito sul campanile di San Damiano.
Nel 1801, in seguito all’invasione napoleonica, il convento degli Agostiniani fu soppresso e la Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista divenne un magazzino.
Solo nel 1821 riacquisì le sue funzioni religiose e venne a poco a poco riarredata ed abbellita. A quegli anni risalgono la posa dell'organo dei fratelli Vittino di Centallo e il soffitto a cassettoni.
L'interno della Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista è ad un'unica navata lungo la quale si aprono otto cappelle laterali con archi a tutto sesto sorretti da pilastri con lesene e decorazioni in stucco.
Diversi sono i dipinti di pregio che vi si possono ammirare come, nella terza cappella, Madonna col Bambino, Sant’Agostino e Santa Lucia, opera manierista di Macrino d’Alba oppure, nella prima cappella, la preziosa tavola della Madonna del Latte dipinta da Barnaba da Modena nel 1377.
Nel presbiterio notate il sedile intagliato in legno di noce, ricavato dal coro della Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi ed il grande quadro, ad olio su tela, raffiguranti Gesù Bambino, San Giuseppe, la Madonna, l’Angelo Custode, il Padre Eterno, lo Spirito Santo e San Giulio.
Il Crocifisso processionale, in legno dipinto, della Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista risale ai primi decenni del secolo XVI da autore ignoto.
Prima di uscire soffermatevi ad ammirare la controfacciata della chiesa, anticamente la parete di fondo dell'edificio medievale, dove si trovano preziosi frammenti di affreschi. Raffigurano delle donne inginocchiate in preghiera con San Giovanni l’Evangelista e San Giovanni Battista.
La Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista è visitabile tutti i giorni ad eccetto degli orari delle funzioni religiose.
Per una visita virtuale più approfondita consigliamo di consultare il sito dell'Associazione San Giovanni.
Church of St. John the Baptist in Alba
Piazza Pertinace is one of the most interesting points in the historic center of Alba. Here, in front of some medieval historical buildings, including the Castellaccio, and the remains of the Roman Temple is placed the Church of St. John the Baptist.
This religious building of medieval origins is, after the Cathedral, the oldest in the city.
Built between the seventh and eighth centuries, it underwent several alterations until it assumed the current seventeenth-century forms.
In 1556 it was granted for use of the order of the Augustinians who reversed the orientation of the longitudinal axis.
In 1700 was added a compass on the bell tower and a clock which, during the Napoleonic invasion, was transferred to the bell tower of San Damiano Church.
In 1801, following the Napoleonic invasion, the Augustinian convent was suppressed and the Church of St. John the Baptist became a warehouse.
Only in 1821 it regain its religious functions and it was gradually redecorated and embellished. The laying of the organ made by the Vittino of Centallo brothers and the coffered ceiling date back to those years.
The interior of the Church of St. John the Baptist is a single nave along which there are eight side chapels with round arches supported by pillars with pilasters and stucco decorations.
There are several valuable paintings that can be admired there such as, in the third chapel, Madonna and Child, St. Agostino and St. Lucia, a mannerist work by Macrino d'Alba or, in the first chapel, the precious table with the "Madonna del Latte" painted by Barnaba of Modena in 1377.
In the presbytery note the carved walnut seat, obtained from the choir of the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi and the large painting, in oil on canvas, depicting the Child Jesus, St. Joseph, the Madonna, the Guardian Angel, the Eternal Father , the Holy Spirit and St. Giulio.
The processional crucifix, in painted wood, of the Church of St. John the Baptist dates back to the early decades of the 16th century by an unknown author.
Before going out, stop to admire the counter-facade of the church, formerly the back wall of the medieval building, where there are precious fragments of frescoes. They represent women kneeling in prayer with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist.
The Church of St. John the Baptist can be visited every day except during the mass.
For a more detailed virtual visit, we recommend to the San Giovanni Association site.
Piazza Pertinace is one of the most interesting points in the historic center of Alba. Here, in front of some medieval historical buildings, including the Castellaccio, and the remains of the Roman Temple is placed the Church of St. John the Baptist.
This religious building of medieval origins is, after the Cathedral, the oldest in the city.
Built between the seventh and eighth centuries, it underwent several alterations until it assumed the current seventeenth-century forms.
In 1556 it was granted for use of the order of the Augustinians who reversed the orientation of the longitudinal axis.
In 1700 was added a compass on the bell tower and a clock which, during the Napoleonic invasion, was transferred to the bell tower of San Damiano Church.
In 1801, following the Napoleonic invasion, the Augustinian convent was suppressed and the Church of St. John the Baptist became a warehouse.
Only in 1821 it regain its religious functions and it was gradually redecorated and embellished. The laying of the organ made by the Vittino of Centallo brothers and the coffered ceiling date back to those years.
The interior of the Church of St. John the Baptist is a single nave along which there are eight side chapels with round arches supported by pillars with pilasters and stucco decorations.
There are several valuable paintings that can be admired there such as, in the third chapel, Madonna and Child, St. Agostino and St. Lucia, a mannerist work by Macrino d'Alba or, in the first chapel, the precious table with the "Madonna del Latte" painted by Barnaba of Modena in 1377.
In the presbytery note the carved walnut seat, obtained from the choir of the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi and the large painting, in oil on canvas, depicting the Child Jesus, St. Joseph, the Madonna, the Guardian Angel, the Eternal Father , the Holy Spirit and St. Giulio.
The processional crucifix, in painted wood, of the Church of St. John the Baptist dates back to the early decades of the 16th century by an unknown author.
Before going out, stop to admire the counter-facade of the church, formerly the back wall of the medieval building, where there are precious fragments of frescoes. They represent women kneeling in prayer with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist.
The Church of St. John the Baptist can be visited every day except during the mass.
For a more detailed virtual visit, we recommend to the San Giovanni Association site.
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