Salerno Cathedral

Salerno, Italy

Salerno Cathedral (or duomo) is the main church in the city of Salerno in southern Italy and a major tourist attraction. It is dedicated to Saint Matthew, whose relics are inside the crypt. Begun by Robert Guiscard in 1076 in the episcopate of Alfano I, the Duomo was consecrated by Pope Gregory VII in 1084.

In 1688, the architect Ferdinando Sanfelice remodelled the interior of the Duomo in the Neapolitan Baroque and Rococo styles. A restoration in the 1930s brought it back to an appearance similar to the original one.

The Duomo is a symbol of the Italian Renaissance because inside is the tomb of Pope Gregory VII who rejected imperial domination of the church.

The Duomo was damaged in World War II when, as part of the Operation Avalanche, the Allies landed in Salerno in September 1943.

Architecture and features

The most striking external feature is the bell tower (mid-12th century), with small arcades and mullioned windows, standing 56 m high and in Arabic-Norman style. It contains 8 large bells. The façade has a Romanesque portal with Byzantine-style bronze doors from Constantinople (1099), with 56 panels with figures, crosses and stories from Jesus's life. The entrance has a portico with 28 antique columns whose pointed arches, with lava rock intarsia, show influence of Arab art, and contains a series of ancient Roman sarcophagi.

The interior has a nave and two aisles, divided by pilasters in which the original columns are embedded, and three apses. Artworks include two pulpits with mosaic decorations, paintings by Francesco Solimena, a 14th-century Gothic statue of Madonna with Child and the sepulchres of the Neapolitan queen Margaret of Durazzo, of Roger Borsa and of archbishop Bartolomeo d'Arpano, and the tomb of Pope Gregory VII.

The crypt, believed to house the remains of Matthew the Apostle, is a groin vaulted hall with a basilica-like plan divided by columns. It was restored under design by Domenico Fontana and his son Giulio in 1606–1608, with marble decorations added in the 18th century. All of the ceiling frescoes are painted by Belisario Corenzio and depict scenes from the Gospel of Matthew, as well as some episodes of the history of Salerno (such as the siege of the city by the French).

The Duomo Museum houses artworks from different ages, including the silver statues of the Salernitane Martyrs (13th century) and documents of the renowned Schola Medica Salernitana (the first University of Europe, according to some scholars like G. Crisci).

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Details

Founded: 1076-1084
Category: Religious sites in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Melody Garcia (4 months ago)
Very beautiful church. Go downstairs to the part of the church that is even more beautiful than upstairs. Here you will find numerous paintings on the ceiling depicting scenes from Jesus’ life. So amazing. Also, you will find the final resting place of St Matthew the apostle. Being Christians, this was an emotional place to visit.
Christine Mckean (5 months ago)
Beautiful old cathedral there is loads of steps to get up but worth it
Talia Kap (7 months ago)
Such a beautiful church! We visited kinda late so unfortunately we couldnt enter some areas but it was still gorgeous
Mazhar Hameed (7 months ago)
We visited on a weekday, and fortunately, due to lunchtime, the church was nearly empty, making it incredibly easy for us to take pictures and then sit and relax in the tranquility of the environment. The marble work was exceptional, and the artistic details were simply stunning.
Sudha Lyoness (13 months ago)
Very beautiful and charming in Salerno Italy. I think I am so lucky to have a chance to visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria. The ticket was € 6 for the senior and you can use it to visit the museum as well. So I highly recommend that anyone go to Salerno Italy ?? ❤️?
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