Barletta Cathedral

Barletta Cathedral is a significant Roman Catholic cathedral located in the city of Barletta, in the Apulia region of southern Italy. Its history is deeply layered, with the current structure's construction commencing in the 12th century on a site that has been used for worship for millennia.

History and Development

The cathedral occupies a location with ancient origins, featuring hypogeum structures dating back to the late 4th to early 3rd centuries BC, possibly associated with a temple to Neptune. From the 6th century AD, a palaeo-Christian basilica stood here. After the destruction of ancient Canosa, numerous clerics relocated to Barletta, and the church was renamed Santa Maria de Auxilio. A 9th-century structure on this site had a Latin cross plan with a pavement mosaic, traces of which still exist.

A Romanesque church, known as Sancta Maria Majoris, was built in the Norman period (12th century) over the preceding basilica. The bell tower was erected later in the same century, and the capitals of the ciborium were crafted by oriental artists. Further additions included the matronei, a mullioned window, and a rose window on the western façade. The new church was consecrated in 1267, featuring a nave and two aisles divided by columns and pillars. In the 13th century, two bays and three semicircular apses were added, mirroring designs found in Trani Cathedral.

In the 13th century, Palatine Count Giovanni Pipino da Barletta, a confidant of King Charles I of Anjou, spearheaded a further expansion. The edifice was enlarged eastward with a new choir, and the apse and other sections were altered, incorporating new Gothic structures. The extensive renovation and expansion efforts continued until the 16th century.

Architectural Features and Decoration

The cathedral is oriented from east to west, with its Gothic ambulatory facing eastwards. The bell tower stands on the northern side and provides access to the castle through an archway beneath which lie remnants of the ancient church's pavement. The interior is noted for its rich medieval decoration, including intricately carved capitals adorned with animals, monsters, and other fantastical figures. The main façade originally featured three portals; the central one, lost under unknown circumstances, was replaced by a Renaissance portal. Some bas-reliefs from the original portal, depicting scenes such as the Last Supper and Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, are now housed within the cathedral.

Barletta Cathedral stands as a testament to the evolving architectural and religious history of the region, blending various styles and periods into a unified sacred space.