| Church of Saint Matthew (Chiesa di San Matteo) |
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The façade of the Basilica. |
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Genoa, Italy |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Genoa |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | National monument |
| Status | Active |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Completed | 1125 |
San Matteo is a church in Genoa, northern Italy.
The church was founded in 1125 by Martino Doria, as the private chapel of his family. In 1278 it was totally renewed in Gothic style.
The building was again renovated in the mid-16th century by order of Andrea Doria, who commissioned the work to Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli (changes included the presbytery and the dome); and again in 1557-1559, under design by Giovanni Battista Castello (nave and aisles, and decoration, realized by Luca Cambiaso among the others.
Of the Gothic building, the nave and aisles and the façade in white (marble) and black (slate) stripes, divided into three sectors by fake columns with Lombard bands; in the center is a large rose window, while on the sides are two double mullioned windows. The façade includes a late Roman sarcophagus with an Allegory of the Autumn, which originally was used as the tomb of Lamba Doria, who had taken it to Genoa from Korčula in Dalmatia.
On the left side of the church is the cloister of St. Matthew, of quadrangular plan, dating to 1308. It has ogival arches on double small columns.
Artworks of the interior include the Miracle of the Ethiopian Dragon by Luca Cambiaso and the Vocation of St. Matthew by Giovanni Battista Castello, a wooden "Deposition" by Anton Maria Maragliano, and the tomb of Andrea Doria, executed by Montorsoli, in the crypt. At the high altar is a Holy Family with St. Anne by Bernardo Castello (16th century). According to the tradition, the sword housed under the altar was owned by Andrea Adoria, and was donacted by Pope Paul III.