Cattedrale

The ancient Abbey of San Cristoforo del Ponte, founded by Benedictine monks, stands on the remains of a pagan temple dedicated to Hercules, the god of strength, later replaced by Saint Christopher the martyr, presented as the Christian Hercules.

The pre-Romanesque church was translated into Renaissance forms starting in 1467 at the behest of Cardinal Bessarione, who in 1472 brought the relic of the shoulder bone of Saint Christopher in an urn by Pollaiolo.
In the mid-18th century, the cathedral was renovated based on a design by the architect Giuseppe Tosi from Urbino, resulting in a single nave with a dome supported by sturdy pillars, a style derived from Vanvitelli. The façade was completed in 1870 based on a design by Benedetto Tacchi from Urbania, who combined the classic terracotta with the white of travertine. The two niches of the façade house the stone statues of Santa Veronica Giuliani da Mercatello sul Metauro and Blessed Margherita della Metola, saints of the diocese.

The current bell tower, built in 1958 based on a design by Donatello Stefanucci from Fano, replaces the Romanesque bell tower still visible on the left side of the church. Inside, in the centre of the presbytery, the large Crucifix by Pietro da Rimini (1309) is suspended. On the left wall of the presbytery is a large panel depicting the Pentecost by Giustino Episcopi (1562), flanked by the canvas “Birth of San Giovannino” (late 16th century) attributed to Giorgio Picchi. On the opposite wall, there is the funerary monument of Bishop Giovanni Maria Maioli (1872 – 1893), sculpted by his brother Luigi, also the author of the monument to Bishop Guerrantonio Boscarini (1849 – 1872) inserted in the left pillar of the cathedral.

Il culto di San Cristoforo, patrono della città e protettore dei viaggiatori e degli automobilisti, è particolarmente sentito a Urbania. La domenica successiva al 25 luglio, in Piazza San Cristoforo, si tiene la suggestiva benedizione delle auto e moto con l’ostensione della reliquia del Santo.