Vigevano (Pavia), Italy
Cathedral of Saint Ambrose
Art and Culture
Designer:
Disano illuminazione
The cathedral of Saint Ambrose (Sant’Ambrogio in Italian) dominates the splendid Piazza Ducale of Vigevano, near the northern city of Pavia in Italy. Built on an earlier religious building dating from before year 1000 A.D., the construction of the current cathedral began in 1532 by will of Francesco II Sforza and was consecrated in spring 1612.
Its very distinctive concave façade is an original and fine interpretation of the Baroque style that creates a perfect balance between the holy building and the urban space in front of it. The interiors, in the shape of a Latin cross and divided into three naves, contain numerous works of art of great value, including a tempera triptych of Leonardo da Vinci’s school placed on one of the altars to the left of the entrance, an altar front (paliotto) with silk and gold embroidered figures dating back to the 18th century, and the high altar by the Italian scenic designer and architect Alessandro Sanquirico. But it’s the majestic pipe organ, produced by the Serassi, a well-known family of Lombard organ builders, that stands out.
The cathedral has recently undergone several renovations, with a focus on the lighting system. Places of worship need very special lighting, which varies according to the occasion, such as ceremonies, masses, or moments of recollection, and at the same time, they must ensure visual comfort and protect the artistic and religious works they cherish.
A lighting project must therefore take this plurality of requirements into account. This is why, in the case of the Vigevano cathedral, the work was commissioned to Disano, an Italian company that has acquired a wealth of experience in the demanding field of church and museum lighting.
In detail, Fosnova (Disano Group) Vision big and Matrix spotlights were installed. Both are characterised by a quality light output, obtained thanks to the latest LED technology, resulting in a constant light flux (low flicker), excellent colour rendering and considerable savings on energy and maintenance costs.
Aesthetics is also an added value to these true technological concentrates. The minimalist body and flowing lines of Fosnova‘s luminaires provide the ideal solution for lights that are required to illuminate discreetly and blend perfectly into the space, especially in the case of places of worship.
The cathedral of Saint Ambrose has therefore opted for Disano’s ad hoc lighting fixtures, suitable for every religious occasion, respectful of the artistic value and, last but not least, safe for the visitors’ eyes.