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“Vera, e distinta relazione di un terribilissimo Terremoto accaduto nella Città di Fiume…”: the 1750 Rijeka Earthquake and the Erection of the Votive Marble Altar of St. Philip Neri in Its Collegiate Church

The terrible earthquake that struck Rijeka in the middle of the 18th century has so far been known only through the contemporary description by certain Mainardi, the local Jesuit monk. However, a newly found and yet unknown records by an anonymous author, kept in the University Library of Trieste, provide new information about the event that befell the inhabitants of Rijeka on 17 December 1750. On that day, a numerous congregation gathered in the Jesuit Church of St. Vitus to continue the liturgical celebration of the Holy Christmas Novena. According to the newly found records, after the Mass ended and when the citizens began to leave the Church, a devastating earthquake occurred. A terrible noise was heard all over the city, all the bell towers collapsed and the religious buildings were significantly damaged. Numerous citizens of Rijeka took refuge in the garden near the Jesuit Church and College. In hope that the terrible earthquake would not happen again, they decided to erect a new votive marble altar in the Collegiate Church dedicated to St. Philip Neri. In 1753 a contract was made with the naturalized Rijeka sculptor, altarist and architect Antonio Michalazzi (1707-1771) according to which he had to build the altar for 540 ducats. Another archival document relates that on 24 May 1754, the Rijeka City Council sent a letter to the Supreme Commercial Administration in Trieste containing a request for 100 ducats, necessary for the completion of the work. In the same year, thanks to the generous donations of the citizens of Rijeka, but also of the city council, the altar was finally put up next to the triumphal arch of the Collegiate Church. It was solemnly consecrated by the Bishop of Pula Giovanni Andrea Balbi (1732 - 1771) immediately afterwards.

Rijeka, earthquake, Antonio Michelazzi

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