Bari Cathedral

Bari Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral of Saint Sabinus (Cattedrale di San Sabino), stands as the principal ecclesiastical edifice in the city of Bari, located in the Apulia region of southern Italy. It serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Bari-Bitonto and is dedicated to Saint Sabinus, a bishop of Canosa whose relics were transferred to Bari in the 9th century. The cathedral is an important example of Apulian Romanesque architecture, with its current structure largely dating from the late 12th and 13th centuries.

History and Construction

The documented history of a bishopric in Bari dates back to the 4th century, with the elevation to an archbishopric occurring in the 6th century. The site of the present cathedral has been occupied by religious buildings for centuries, with traces of earlier churches, including one with three aisles, found beneath the nave. A significant precursor was the Imperial Byzantine cathedral, which was destroyed in 1156 by William I of Sicily. The reconstruction of the cathedral began at the end of the 12th century under Archbishop Rainaldo, who initiated the building of the new cathedral in the style of the Basilica of St. Nicholas, which had served as the episcopal seat in the interim. The new cathedral was consecrated on October 4, 1292. During the 18th century, the façade, nave, and aisles were refurbished in Baroque style, but subsequent restorations, particularly in the 1950s and in the late 20th and 21st centuries, have worked to restore and emphasize its original Romanesque character.

Architecture and Features

Bari Cathedral is a distinguished example of Apulian Romanesque style, characterized by a simple façade featuring three portals and a prominent rose window. The interior is divided into three aisles supported by sixteen columns with arcades. Although it experienced Baroque additions, its original uncluttered Romanesque beauty has been brought to the fore through restoration, notably in the transept and the magnificent pulpit. Beneath the cathedral, the crypt houses the relics of Saint Sabinus in the larger altar. Also within the crypt are two sarcophagi, one containing the relics of Saint Columba. In the sacristy, an altar painting likely depicts Saint Maurus, traditionally named as the first bishop of Bari. Adjacent to the cathedral, in the Palace of the Curia, is the Diocesan Museum, which displays the Exultet of Bari, a rare and finely illuminated Byzantine manuscript whose unique presentation allowed the faithful to view sacred drawings during services.