Altar of St Ceccardo
XVI century
Ceccardo was the Bishop of Luni and, according to tradition, he underwent martyrdom for faith. Today’s historiography identifies him as Sicherado, son of Silitraldo, who died by hand of the Normans in the year 860.
The altar, in white marble, dates from the end of the XVI century.
Two columns frame the canvas attributed to Luciano Borzone (Genova, 1590 – 1645) that depicts The martyrdom of St Ceccardo. The table of the altar is supported by thin Portoro black marble columns standing on a polychromatic marble decorated base.
Underneath the table, the relics of the body are preserved, covered in garments dating from to the XVII century.
The bust
On the left of the altar is a marble bust of Saint Ceccardo, sculpted by Carrara-born Vittorio Tabaracci in the late 90s of the 20th century. The work is a copy of the reliquary in silver (XV to XVII centuries) which is exhibited every year on 16th June when the Patron Saint of Carrara is celebrated.
The Sarcophagus
The sarcophagus, on the left of the altar, that once contained the remains of the Saint, is carved from a single block of marble. The cover was joined to the sarcophagus with lateral iron bindings, of which the remains are still visible. The tomb is held by two cupids of a later period, most probably from the XVII century. Along the lower edge, from left to right, is this inscription:
HIC. IACE(T)./ CORPVS. DIVI. CECARDI. MARTYRSS. EPI./ LVNENSIS.
On the right side, there is another inscription according to which the Saint was martyrized in the year 600. This version has been rejected because, in the year 600, the Bishop of Luni was Venanzio; after all, in a time where Lunigiana was Byzantine, the name of the Bishop of Luni could not have been Ceccardo (Langobardic name). The dating of the sarcophagus probably reproduces the old inscriptions: it doesn’t have any value as a proof. On the other hand, the date of the martyrdom was identified initially on the basis of oral tradition, linked to many legendary elements.