The Cathedral of Saint Sabinus is older though less famous than the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari, and it is right in the heart of the old town, in a square called Piazza dell’Odegitria.
The Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Bari-Bitonto. It was begun in Bizantine style in 1034, but it was destroyed in the sack of the city in 1156 by William the Wicked.
A new building was built between 1170-1178, partially inspired by that of San Nicholas. Today traces of the original pavement are visible in the transept. One of the mosaic pavements bears an inscription with the name of Bishop Andrea and it seems likely that these are the remains of the first cathedral, which was destroyed in the 9th or 10th century.
The church is an important example of Apulian Romanesque architecture and it has a simple Romanesque façade with three portals; in the upper part there is a rose window decorated with monstruous and fantasy figures. The interior has a nave and two aisles, divided by sixteen columns with arcades. In the crypt there are the relics of Saint Sabinus and the icon of the Madonna Odegitria.
The interior and the façade were redecorated in Baroque style during the 18th century, but in the 1950s the Cathedral was restored to its original style.
By Mattia, Yary, Luigi A., Barbara, Luigi S.
Very impressive building!
ReplyDeleteThe documented presence of a bishop in Bari goes back to Gervasius, who attended the Council of Sardica in 347, and his successor Concordius, who was present at the Synod of Rome of 465, although names of their predecessors are preserved by tradition, beginning with Saint Maurus in the first century.
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