Cappella Colleoni (Colleoni Chapel), Bergamo (must see)

The Colleoni Chapel is a remarkable Renaissance church located on the Piazza del Duomo in the upper part of Bergamo, adjacent to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. It was commissioned by Bartolomeo Colleoni as his mausoleum and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The project was designed by Giovanni Antonio Amadeo and construction took place between 1470 and 1476, although it was never fully completed and additional works were added later.

The initial supervision of the construction was entrusted to Alessio Agliardi, a close friend of Colleoni. Agliardi maintained communication between the two parties and obtained the necessary authorizations for the building. The actual construction of the monumental complex began in 1472 with the demolition of the sacristy of Santa Maria Maggiore and the adjacent portico.

Amadeo's architectural solution harmonizes with the neighboring basilica, as seen in the octagonal drum and the pinnacle of the lantern. The roof and the polychrome marbles chosen resemble the porch of Giovanni da Campione. This design choice highlights the mausoleum's characteristics while also allowing for liturgical celebrations to take place within.

The facade of the Colleoni Chapel is adorned with inlays and polychrome marble decorations featuring white, red, and black lozenges. Above the portal, there is a rose window surmounted by a statue, possibly originally made of metal, representing Colleoni as an idealized figure of a captain, a Roman emperor, and a connection to the patron saint of Bergamo, Saint Alexander of Bergamo. On either side of the statue are two medallions depicting Caesar and Trajan.

The roof consists of an octagonal drum resting on the loggia, and a segmented dome that culminates with a lantern housing the statue of the Madonna and Child. Within the drum, there is a small rose window aligned with the larger one below, containing the bronze serpent of Moses, symbolizing a continuity between the biblical figure and Colleoni. The interior of the chapel comprises a square-plan room and a smaller area with the presbytery positioned to the side.

Opposite the entrance, on the wall, lies the cenotaph of Bartolomeo Colleoni, who passed away on November 3, 1475. The pillars supporting the cenotaph feature lion heads at their bases. A first sarcophagus adorned with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the crucifixion of Christ rests upon the pillars. Above it, there is a second sarcophagus with an unknown purpose, supported by three statues. These statues also feature bas-reliefs illustrating scenes of the Annunciation, the nativity of Christ, and the adoration of the Three Kings.