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Link to the Magnificent Cathedrals of Puglia The Wagon Wheel Rose Windows of Puglia's Cathedrals Map and summary notes on Puglia Cathedrals BITONTO CATTEDRALE - MAIN PAGE
BITONTO CATTEDRALE DI SAN VALENTINO - NOVEMBER 2006 THE CRYPT AND MUSEUM
BACK TO LINKS TO OTHER BITONTO CATTEDRALE PAGES
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The biggest and most sumptuously medieval of the Puglian Cathedrals in itself, its detailing and its setting. Dating from the 1100s (just after the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari), Bitonto Cattedrale has recently emerged from a ten year restoration program which involved inter alia the digging up of the entire floor (right) and creation under the relaid nave floor of a museum of the foundations, flooring and artefacts of earlier buildings.
This place is so worth it, don't be put off by the total lack of signage. Cruise around until you find the Piazza Marconi, which has lots of meter parking and is next to the main gate into the narrow-streeted old town. Go through the gate and "sempre dritto" (straight on) - more or less, as the medieval lanes allow - until after five minutes or less you sense the Cattedrale on your right. If, as is likely, the crypt and museum below the church are locked up, ask someone like Vito Valentino (below) if you can visit them.
Lots more photos still to come .....
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This 1000s floor mosaic of a giant Gryphon carrying an ivy leaf is the prize exhibit down below - it is under the west end of the nave and was the floor at the base of a tower in an earlier cathedral.
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The crypt, as in most of the Norman Puglian Cathedrals, runs under the transept of the upper church
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Basement crypt fresco of the Annunciation
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MORE PHOTOS ON THE
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Links to other Paradoxplace pages
All original material © Adrian Fletcher 2000-08 - The contents may not be hotlinked, or reproduced without permission. |
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