Capua Cathedral
The Cathedral of Capua or the Cathedral of the Assumption ( Italian Santa Maria Assunta ) is a Roman Catholic church in Capua in the Italian region of Campania . The Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Capua is Virgin Mary under invocation of the Assumption consecrated and carries the title of minor basilica .
history
Tradition ascribes the construction of the cathedral to Bishop Landulfo in 856 when the city was re-established, but it was only rebuilt in the 10th century and then towards the end of the 11th century by the archbishop (1072-1086). Erveo added the entrance area, which was later expanded in the 15th century, and considerably renovated the adjoining bishop's palace. During the eighteenth century the entire complex was radically restructured. In 1827 the cathedral received the rank of minor basilica. Between 1854 and 1857, the architect Federico Travaglini renovated the church under Archbishop Giuseppe Cosenza in a neo-Renaissance style. The church was almost completely destroyed in the bombing raids of 1943, and the central nave and choir collapsed. It was rebuilt between 1949 and 1957. In 1992, the Diocesan Museum of Capua was inaugurated in the Corpus Christi chapel , where paintings and sculptures from various city churches are kept.
description
The cathedral has the shape of a Latin cross with three naves , divided by 24 granite columns. In front of it is a square atrium with 16 Roman columns, one of the few remains of the ancient building after the bombings of World War II. In the crypt , which is supported by several granite pillars, there are some interesting capitals adorned with animals and monstrous figures. Another part of the original cathedral is the bell tower , which was built by Bishop Landone in the second half of the 9th century. Ancient remains can be seen in it, including some reliefs that may have come from the amphitheater of Santa Maria Capua Vetere .
The most important works of art are some preserved pieces of equipment that have been created over the centuries. The altarpiece shows the Assumption on a large canvas by Francesco Solimena from the 1730s with the admirable statues of the apostles. The altarpiece appears as one of the masterpieces of the Avellino master. The stand for the Easter candle from the 11th century shows pictures carved in marble and decorated with polychrome inlays. The marble plinth of the baptismal font dates from the 10th century and the symbols of the four evangelists are carved into its four sides. A dying Christ was created by Matteo Bottiglieri in 1724 . Two marble lions probably carried a medieval ambo. Two grave monuments date from the 14th and 15th centuries, one of which reuses a Roman sarcophagus from the 4th century.
literature
- Giovanni Ceraso: Il Duomo di Capua, metropoli e basilica - guida del forestiere: Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Casa Editrice Progresso, 1916.
Web links
- La cattedrale di Capua on medioevo.org (Italian)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Basilica Cattedrale di Maria SS Assunta in Cielo on gcatholic.org (English)
- ↑ Chiesa di Maria Santissima Assunta in Cielo (Italian)
Coordinates: 41 ° 6 ′ 32.4 " N , 14 ° 12 ′ 40.7" E