San Giovanni Battista. History in the Heart of the Village

The Main Religious Building

The parish church of San Giovanni Battista is the main religious building in Soldano and one of its most recognizable landmarks. Dedicated to the patron saint, it stands just outside the gates of the ancient medieval village, overlooking a wide, bright square. The church we see today was built to replace the old parish church, dating back to the 15th century, which had come to be considered too small and no longer suited to the needs of the village. It was consecrated on 11 October 1857 by Lorenzo Battista Biale, Bishop of Ventimiglia. The construction of the new church directly involved the inhabitants of Soldano and continued for several years, until the completion of the altars and interior finishes between 1858 and 1860.

Construction and Architectural Style

The location of the church was not chosen by chance. This site was selected to ensure light and visibility, as well as to leave room for the construction of an adjacent rectory. The building is Baroque in style, with a spacious and solemn architectural layout designed to welcome the community. In 2000, following the collapse of part of the ceiling, the church remained closed for almost two years. Consolidation work and the reconstruction of the roof allowed it to reopen in 2002, restoring to the village one of its most important places.

The Artistic Heritage Inside

Inside, the church preserves several works of sacred art. Among them is a Renaissance polyptych with Saint John the Baptist at the centre, flanked by Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Anthony Abbot, with other sacred figures in the upper section. In the past, the work was attributed to Andrea della Cella of Finale and, according to some scholars, to Francesco Brea. There is also a large painting from 1667, created in Rome by Job Bapt. Galentruccius, together with statues, painted decorations, marble balustrades, a bell tower with a clock, and an organ.