San Cesareo (Terracina)

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San Cesareo

The Cathedral of San Cesareo , Italian Cattedrale di San Cesareo , also known as the cathedral (Duomo), is the co- cathedral of the diocese of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno in the Italian region of Latium and the most important church building in the city of Terracina . It is dedicated to the martyr and city patron Caesarius of Terracina .

In 1088 the papal election took place in the church , in which Urban II was elected.

Building history

The church was built on the podium of an ancient temple, presumably a temple of the Roma and Augustus , at the Forum Emilianum. The wall of the cella of the temple is still visible in the side street, Via Anita Garibaldi. In the 6th century, a church was first mentioned at this point in a text by Pope Gregory the Great . The present Cathedral of Terracina was consecrated on November 24, 1074. It was expanded in the 12th century. The decoration with cosmats originates from this time. The church building was baroque in the 18th century. A comprehensive restoration took place in 1926.

Exterior

Detail of the mosaic frieze on the porch

The church stands on the podium of the ancient temple, to which 25 ancient steps of an outside staircase lead up to the entire width. Above it rises a vestibule with six ancient columns, each standing on bases in the shape of lions. There is an antique tub on the side. The passage in the middle is emphasized by a round arch that takes up the motif of a triumphal arch. This is reminiscent of the cathedral in Civita Castellana .

Outstanding decoration is a mosaic frieze on the architrave, which is only preserved on the right side. It is a cosmat work with echoes of the Sicilian-Norman style. The date and the interpretation are unclear. Real and mythical animals are shown. There are two inscriptions on the architrave. GUTIFRED: EGIDII MILES is written above two fighting knights flanking a paw cross . This can be translated as Gutifred, fighter of Aegidius . This may mean Godfrey of Bouillon . Aegidius could be a reference to Raimund von Saint-Gilles . The representation could thus allude to the First Crusade , which Urban II had called for. In this context, the second inscription PETRUS PBRI MILES could be identified with Peter the Hermit .

The campanile dates from the 13th century. with its pointed arches connected by cross-arch friezes, it stands between the Arabic-Norman style and approaches to Gothic . Buildings in neighboring cities stand on the same stylistic boundary, such as the campanile of the Duomo in Gaeta and the Collegiata (collegiate church) of San Pietro in Minturno .

Interior

Cosmaten floor

The building presents itself as a three-aisled basilica , the aisles of which are separated by twelve ancient columns.

The floor, which was made in the Cosmaten style in the 12th century, has been preserved from the medieval furnishings . Possibly the artist was Jacopo di Lorenzo , who also worked in the monasteries in Subiaco . The whole floor of the church was probably designed like this. Today only the central area is preserved.

The ambo and the Easter candlestick were designed in the same style . The ambo rests on five pillars, each of which stands on animal figures. The Easter candlestick also has a base of two lions. An inscription on the base means that it can be dated to 1245.

The main altar was created in 1729. It is unusual that, in addition to the main altar, there are also two side altars with ciborias that rest on ancient columns. The relics of Saint Caesarius and his companions Julian, Felis and Eusebius rest under the altars.

The presbytery was raised during the Baroque era. The vault also dates from this period.

literature

  • Christof Henning: Latium. The land around Rome. With walks in the Eternal City. 3rd updated edition. DuMont, Cologne 2006, ISBN 3-7701-6031-2 ( Dumont art travel guide ).
  • Anton Henze : Art Guide Rome and Latium. Philipp Reclam GmbH, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-15-010402-5 .
  • Nicola Severino: Le Lumarie della Fede

Individual evidence

  1. Henze: Art Guide Rome and Latium , p. 551.
  2. Severino: Le Lumarie della Fede , S. 22nd
  3. Henze: Art Guide Rome and Latium , p. 550.
  4. Gerhart B. Ladner : The Pope Portraits of Antiquity and the Middle Ages, Pontificio istituto di archeologia cristiana, 1970, p. 15 ( online )
  5. Severino: Le Lumarie della Fede , p. 25
  6. La Cattedrale di Terracina

Web links

Commons : San Cesareo Cathedral (Terracina)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 41 ° 17 ′ 31 ″  N , 13 ° 14 ′ 54 ″  E