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Origin and history

Saint John Baptiste Church, called San Ghjuvanni in Corsica, is located in Bastia in the historic district of Terra Vechja, between the Old Port and the Market Square. Built between 1636 and 1666 on the site of an earlier church, it became the main place of worship of the lower city under Genoese rule. Its Baroque architecture, marked by an imposing facade, makes it a symbol of Corsican religious heritage. Ranked a historic monument in 2000, it dominates the urban landscape with its two bell towers later added: the one on the left, erected in 1810 by the Swiss mason Tomaso Quadri, and the one on the right, designed in 1864 by architect Paul-Augustin Viale.

Originally, Bastia was divided into two parishes: Terra Nova (high town) depended on Sainte-Marie-de-l'Assumption, while Terra Vechja (low town, linked to the Old Port) was part of Saint-Jean-Baptiste. The present building replaces a primitive church with few traces, with the exception of a painting of the Takeoff of St.John the Baptist, originally planned for its high altar. The interior decor, initially baroque, was largely redesigned in the 19th century, including the choir, vault and side chapels, reflecting the artistic tastes of the period and the influence of the Genoese and Tuscan artisans.

The chapels of the church bear witness to the importance of the local corporations: those of the sailors (dedicated to St.Erasme, decorated with a painting by Lorenzo De Ferrari) and fishermen (dedicated to St.Peter and Andrew) face each other, illustrating the close link between the community and the sea. The high altar, made in 1694 by the artisan Honoré Pellé, and the pulpit in polychrome marble (1781) underline the fascist of the building. The organ stand, a masterpiece of carpentry dated 1742, and the marble baptismal fonts (1857) complete this artistic ensemble. The church remains a central place of Bastia traditions, like the fucare, fire on June 23 for the Saint John.

In the 19th century, several restoration campaigns transformed the interior: the vault was redecorated in 1870 by Florentine painters, while the stuccos and gildings of the choir, made between 1806 and 1809 by Fausto Rossi and Luigi Giordani, were partially replaced. Major works include paintings by Domenico Piola (chapelle du Rosaire, 1679) and Jules Pasqualini (chapelle Saint-Antoine, 19th century). The church also inspires popular culture, as evidenced by the song U Campanile di San Ghjuvà, composed by Eugène Anarella, celebrating the Old Port and its iconic bell tower.

Listed among historical monuments, the Church of Saint John the Baptist embodies both the Genoese heritage of Bastia and its maritime identity. Its architecture, mixing baroque and neoclassical additions, as well as its liturgical furniture (mares, paintings, organ) make it a jewel of Corsican heritage. Its social role, past and present, remains rooted in local traditions, as evidenced by the persistence of festivals such as fucare or its evocation in the arts.

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