Walking down Via Porta Dipinta in the Upper Town, you will notice an imposing structure with a simple facade: this is the Church of St. Andrew the Apostle.
The church was built starting in 1837 on the remains of a cemetery basilica, through a radical intervention designed by architect F. Crivelli, which envisaged a structure in full neoclassical style.
Of the façade, however, only the three portals were completed, architraved with a linear and slightly molded cornice, with two scroll brackets supporting the cornice above the architrave.
The interior of the building has three naves, separated by half-columns with Corinthian-style capitals.
The dome, which can be glimpsed from the nave, was painted with a trompe-l’oeil coffered effect.
St. Andrew the Apostle is famous for the remarkable paintings preserved inside, which belonged to the previous church.
Among the names of the artists who decorated it are Salmeggia (Nativity worshipped by shepherds), Bassano (Pala di San Donnino), Padovanino (Trittico di Sant’Andrea), Moretto da Brescia (Madonna Enthroned with Child between Saints Eusebia, Andrew, Domnione and Domnone) and Jacopo Palma il Giovane (Nativity worshipped by shepherds) to name but a few.
The church also boasts a Museum of History and Sacred Art (from 2021), as well as the premises of the St. Andrew’s University Center with the ‘James A. Podboy’ library.
The hypogeal rooms of its crypt are also home to the S. Andrea Theater, an early version of which was built in 1951 as a kineteater complete with stage, wings, curtain plus a film projection booth.
Since 2018 it has been managed and progressively restored by the University Theater Center of Bergamo, which has made it the home of the acting school and student association CUT Bergamo, as well as prestigious shows and musical performances.