Alatri Cathedral

Alatri Cathedral, officially known as the Basilica of Saint Paul (Italian: Duomo di Alatri; Basilica concattedrale di San Paolo apostolo), stands as a significant Roman Catholic cathedral in the town of Alatri, within the Lazio region of Italy. It was formerly the seat of the Diocese of Alatri and, since September 30, 1986, serves as a co-cathedral within the Diocese of Anagni-Alatri. Its importance was further recognized on September 10, 1950, when Pope Pius XII bestowed upon it the title of basilica minor.

History and Construction

The cathedral's site is historically rich, built upon the acropolis of Alatri, where ancient shrines of the Hernici and a temple dedicated to Saturn once stood. Historical records indicate the presence of a cathedral chapter as early as 930, with references to a cathedral dating to the first half of the 11th century. A pivotal moment in its history occurred around 1132, under Pope Innocent II, when the relics of the martyred Saint Pope Sixtus I were translated to Alatri. This event prompted a significant refurbishment, with the main altar completed in 1156. Further enhancements were made in the 13th century, including the addition of a screen and ambo by the renowned Cosmati artists, fragments of which are still visible today. The internal walls were adorned with frescoes depicting episodes from the translation of Saint Sixtus' relics in the 16th century, though these are now concealed by later renovations. The cathedral's present-day appearance is largely shaped by extensive modernization works undertaken in the 17th and 18th centuries. The contemporary façade and campanile were constructed between 1790 and 1808 by Jacopo Subleyras, with the cornice and tympanum added in 1884. In commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the relics' translation, the Chapel of St. Sixtus was erected in 1932.

Description and Notable Features

The interior of Alatri Cathedral features a Latin cross ground plan, with three naves separated by pilasters and a raised transept. The façade, constructed from stone and opus latericium, dates from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Beyond the relics of Saint Sixtus I, the cathedral safeguards the remains of Saint Alexander, brought from the Catacombs of Callixtus in 1640, and the Ostia incarnata, a relic associated with the Eucharistic miracle of Alatri in 1228. The cathedral's artistic treasures include a copy of Guido Reni's "Crucifixion," a 1584 silverwork depicting the face of Saint Sixtus, and a 1639 sculpted wooden group known as the "Madonna del suffragio." The remains of Blessed Maria Raffaella Cimatti are also housed in one of the chapels, transferred there in 2010.