Basilicas in Italy—Southern Apulia—2

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Mary, Oria, Brindisi

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1991.

The basilica is the cathedral of the Diocese of Oria.  The Baroque church was built in the late 18th Century to replace a Romanesque cathedral destroyed by an earthquake in 1743.  Within the church are remains of a pre-Roman city, several paintings, and the mummified corpses of 11 soldiers who fought the Saracens. 

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Galatina, Lecce

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1992.

The Romanesque and Gothic church was built between 1369 and 1391 but some think that parts of the church are even older.  It is known for sure that the church was built on the remains of a 9th Century church.  A relic of St. Catherine was obtained by a crusader who bit off part of a finger of the deceased saint’s body.  The church contains many frescoes.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Martin, Martina Franca, Taranto

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1998.

This Baroque and Rococo church was built between 1747 and 1785 to replace a 14th Century Romanesque church that had been destroyed by an earthquake.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of Victory, San Vito dei Normanni, Brindisi

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1998.

The church was built in the late 16th Century shortly after survivors of the 1571 Battle of Lepanto returned home.  The church has 26 paintings and 9 altars.

Both pictures are from TripAdvisor

Basilica of Our Lady of the Culture, Parabita, Lecce

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1999.

The Neo-Gothic and Neo-Romanesque church was built between 1913 and 1942 on the site of previous churches.  The origins of the name are obscure, but some believe that it refers to bread or “cullura” in the local dialect.

The first two pictures are from local sources and the last is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of Carmel, Mesagne, Brindisi

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1999.

The Romanesque and Gothic church was built in 1305 and was given to the Carmelite Fathers in 1521.

Both pictures are from Wordpress.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows, Copertino, Lecce

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.

The Romanesque church was built by the Normans in 1088.  It was rebuilt in the 13th Century and received its current name.  It has been enlarged and embellished over the years and now has some Baroque elements.

Pictures are from Pinterest and Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Most Holy Rosary, Francavilla Fontana, Brindisi

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.

A Byzantine icon of the Madonna and Child was found in 1310, and a church was built to house the icon.  This church was destroyed by an earthquake in 1743, and the current Baroque church was completed in 1759.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.