Italy-3

This blog covers eight ecclesiastic provinces in the administrative regions of Abruzzo, Apulia, and Molise in Central and Southern Italy.

See my previous blogs on Italy:

• 11-6-2019—Italy 1
• 11-13-2019—Italy 2

Province of Bari-Bitonto

The province consists of the central portion of the Administrative Region of Apulia.  The Diocese of Bari was established in 340 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 530.  It acquired its current name in 1986.

The Romanesque Cathedral Basilica of St. Sabinus in Bari was built in the 12th and 13th Centuries on the site of the previous cathedral that was destroyed during a war.  It was modeled on the nearby Basilica of St. Nicholas (burial site of the saint).  Much of the Cathedral was refurbished in the 18th Century in a Baroque style, but more recent renovations have restored the original Romanesque features.  The ancient doors are below a rose window with a lintel carved with monsters and beasts.  The dome of the bell tower shows a Moorish influence.  The pulpit has been rebuilt using fragments from the 11th and 12th Centuries and the baldachin from 13th Century fragments.  The adjacent museum has an 11th Century illustrated liturgical parchment scroll.  Pope Pius XII declared the Cathedral to be a minor basilica in 1954.

The first picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Co-Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Bitonto was built by the Normans in the 12th Century in a Romanesque style.  The Cathedral has mosaic floors and a marble pulpit.  There are many stone carved pieces, most notably, the marble ambo, which dates to 1229 and is considered a masterpiece of medieval stone carving.

The top picture is from TripAdvisor and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie was established as the Diocese of Trani in the 6th Century and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1063.  It was demoted to an archdiocese in 1980 and acquired its current name in 1986.
• The Diocese of Conversano-Monopoli was established as the Diocese of Conversano in the 5th Century and acquired its current name in 1986.
• The Diocese of Andria was established in the 11th Century.
• The Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi was established as the Diocese of Molfetta in the 12th Century and acquired its current name in 1986.
• The Diocese of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti was established as the territorial prelature of Altamura in 1248 and became the Diocese of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti in 1986.

Province of Taranto

The province consists of the southwestern portion of the Administrative Region of Apulia.  The Diocese of Taranto was established in the 6th Century and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 970.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Cataldo in Taranto was built in the 12th Century and has an 18th Century Baroque façade with carvings of angels and saints—including St. Cataldo.  The Cathedral is decorated with frescoes and paintings and has a 10th Century baptismal font.  Michelin recommends the Chapel of St. Cataldo (where the early bishop is interred), which is faced with multicolored marble and embellished with 18th Century statues.  The Blessed Sacrament chapel is of Baroque design and the crypt features 12th Century frescos.  The Cathedral was designated a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1964.

Pictures are from Dreamstime, Expedia, and Wikipedia.

The Great Mother of God Co-Cathedral in Taranto is a modern concrete and steel church built in the early 1970s.

Pictures are from Desisare and Pinterest.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Castellaneta was established in 1023.
• The Diocese of Oria was established in 1591.

Province of Chieti-Vasto

The province consists of the southeastern portion of the Administrative Region of Abruzzo.  The Diocese of Chieti was established in the 6th Century and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1526.  It acquired its current name in 1986.

The brick and limestone Cathedral of St. Justin in Chieti was originally built in the 11th Century in a Gothic style, but was rebuilt in a Romanesque style in the 13th Century.  The bell tower was completed in 1498 and the façade in 1920.  The nave has several paintings and many side chapels.  The crypt has several murals and frescoes dating to the 14th Century. 

The first picture is from Flickr, the second from Pinterest, and the others from Wikipedia.

The Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Vasto was built in the 13th Century and incorporates both Baroque and neo-Gothic styles.  The bell tower dates to 1730 and the stained-glass windows and a triptych of St. Michael date to the 16th Century.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has one suffragan diocese.

• The Archdiocese of Lanciano-Ortona was established as a diocese in 1515 and was promoted to an archdiocese in 1562 and to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1834.  It was demoted to an archdiocese in 1982 and acquired its current name in 1986.  The Basilica of St. Thomas the Apostle in Ortona contains the tomb of Thomas.

Province of L’Aquila

The province consists of the western portion of the Administrative Region of Abruzzo.  The Diocese of Forcona was created in 1178 and became the Diocese of L’Aquila was established in 1257.  This became an archdiocese in 1876 and a metropolitan archdiocese in 1972.

The Cathedral of Saints Maximus and George in L’Aquila was built in the 13th Century, but was destroyed by a 1703 earthquake.  The cathedral was restored, but heavily damaged once again by an earthquake in 2009.  Restoration is underway and the Basilica of San Guiseppe Artigiano serves as the temporary cathedral.  The pictures are of the pre-earthquake cathedral.

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Sulmona-Valva was established as the Diocese of Sulmona in the 6th Century and acquired its current name in 1986.
• The Diocese of Avezzano was established in the 9th Century and acquired its current name in 1986.

Province of Campobasso-Bojano

The province consists of the Administrative Region of Molise.  The Diocese of Bojano was established in 1060 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1976.  It acquired its current name in 1982.

The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Campobasso was built in a neoclassical style in 1829 to replace a 16th Century cathedral that was destroyed by an 1805 earthquake.

Pictures are from TripAdvisor and Wikipedia.

The Co-Cathedral of St. Bartholomew in Bojano was built in the 11th Century, but has been damaged several times by earthquakes and restored.  The apse retains a Norman style.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Isernia-Venafro was established as the Diocese of Isernia in the 5th Century and acquired its current name in 1986 with the suppression of the Diocese of Venafro.
• The Diocese of Termoli-Larino was established in 940 as the Diocese of Termoli and acquired its current name in 1986 with the suppression of the Diocese of Larino.  The Cathedral of the Purification of Mary in Termoli contains the tomb of St. Timothy.
• The Diocese of Trivento was established in 940.

Province of Foggia-Bovino

The province consists of the northern portion of the Administrative Region of Apulia.  The Diocese of Foggia was established in 1855 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1979.  It acquired its current name in 1986.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven in Foggia (also known as St. Mary of Foggia) was built in a Romanesque style in the 12th Century.  It was damaged by an earthquake in 1731 and was restored in a Baroque style.  The Cathedral contains an ancient icon of the Madonna of the Seven Veils.  Pope Pius VII declared the Cathedral to be a minor basilica in 1806.

The last two pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Co-Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Bovino was destroyed by an earthquake in 1930 and rebuilt in 1936.  It was declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1970.

The top pictures is from Pinterest and the bottom is from Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Archdiocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo was established as the Diocese of Siponto in the 3rd Century.  This became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Manfredonia in 1074.  It was demoted to an archdiocese in 1979 and acquired its current name in 2002.
• The Diocese of Lucera-Troia was established as the Diocese of Lucera in the 4th Century and acquired its current name in 1986.
• The Diocese of San Severo was established as the Diocese of Civitate in the 11th Century and acquired its current name in 1580.
• The Diocese of Cerignola-Ascoli Satriano was established as the Diocese of Ascoli Satriano in the 11th Century and acquired its current name in 1986.

Province of Lecce

The province consists of the southeastern portion of the Administrative Region of Apulia.  The Diocese of Lecce was established in 1057 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1980.

The Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Lecce was originally built in 1144, but was rebuilt between 1659 and 1682 in a Baroque style.  The Baroque northern façade has statues of Saints Giusto, Fortunato, Orontius, Peter, and Paul.  The 18th Century main altar is made of marble and gold-plated bronze and has paintings depicting the Assumption and Old Testament prophets.  The interior ceiling has paintings by Giuseppe da Brindisi.  The Cathedral also has 12 highly decorated side chapels.  The 235-foot bell tower dates to the 17th Century.  The 16th Century crypt is held up with 92 columns with capitals adorned with sculpted animals.

The first picture is from Flickr and the rest are from Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Archdiocese of Brindisi-Ostuni was established as the Diocese of Brindisi in the 4th Century, became a metropolitan archdiocese in the 10th Century, was demoted to an archdiocese in 1980, and acquired its current name in 1986.
• The Archdiocese of Otranto was established as a diocese in the 7th Century, became a metropolitan archdiocese in the 11th Century, before once again becoming an archdiocese in 1980.
• The Diocese of Ugento-Santa Maria di Leuca was established in the 13th Century as the Diocese of Ugento and acquired its current name in 1959.
• The Diocese of Nardo-Gallipoli was established as an abbacy nullius in 1090, became the Diocese of Nardo 1413, and acquired its current name in 1986. (An abbacy nullius is a territory surrounding an abbey or monastery, in which the abbot serves as the bishop.)

Province of Pescara-Penne

The province consists of the northeastern portion of the Administrative Region of Abruzzo.  The Diocese of Penne was established in the 5th Century was renamed Penne-Pescara in 1949.  This became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1982.

The Cathedral of St. Cetteus in Pescara was built in the 1930s in a Romanesque Revival style to replace a ruined medieval church.  The façade has three rose windows and is flanked on one side by the bell tower.  The Cathedral has a 17th Century painting of St. Francis thought to be by Guercino. 

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Co-Cathedral of St. Maximus is in Penne.  The Cathedral was built over a 10th Century crypt in an Italian Gothic style.  Its campanile is 200 feet high.  The Co-Cathedral was heavily damaged in 1944 but was restored.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has one suffragan diocese.

• The Diocese of Teramo-Atri was established in the 5th Century as the Diocese of Teramo.  It acquired its current name in 1986 with the suppression of the Diocese of Atri.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope. 

A basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.  Some cathedrals are also basilicas.  Each basilica has a ceremonial umbrella in the papal colors of white and yellow and a ceremonial bell.  Both of these are symbolic of the Pope’s special relationship to the basilica.