Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore di Siponto, Manfredonia, Italy

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore di Siponto is a church in Manfredonia, Apulia. The church was completed around 1117, when it was consecrated (perhaps in place of a pre-existing 6th century Palaeo-Christian edifice) and the relics of Laurence of Siponto where put under the high altar.

The building has an unusual square plan, consisting of two independent churches (one, underground, is the current crypt), two apses on the southern and eastern walls, and a medieval monumental portal with two side lions, facing the road entering in Manfredonia.

The interior, with four pillars, dates to the 11th century, and once housed the icon of the Holy Virgin of Siponto, dated to the 7th century. The icon is now in the Manfredonia Cathedral, as well as the polychrome wood Byzantine statue of La Sipontina (6th century) The underground church dates to the early Middle Ages, and was replaced by the upper one after having been destroyed by an earthquake.

References:

Wikipedia

Religious sites in Italy

User Reviews

Mary Nguyen (19 months ago)
Beside the castle and beautiful beaches, this church should be a non-missing destination when visiting Manfredonia. I don't know how old it is, but it's been standing there for millennium years and still stays remaining

Stefano Faggin (3 years ago)
Really well exposed

Yoss Valensi (4 years ago)
Small and nice place for a walking

Michel Disdero (4 years ago)
Thé wireframe reconstruction is awesome

Marco Ullasci (4 years ago)
The way they provided an understanding of how the building was in the past while at the same time preserving the archeological site is just fantastic and gives to visitors of different backgrounds the best possible experience of the site

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright joiseyshowaa

Historic Site of the week

Broch of Gurness

The Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age broch village. Settlement here began sometime between 500 and 200 BC. At the centre of the settlement is a stone tower or broch, which once probably reached a height of around 10 metres. Its interior is divided into sections by upright slabs. The tower features two skins of drystone walls, with stone-floored galleries in between. These are accessed by steps. Stone ledges suggest that there was once an upper storey with a timber floor. The roof would have been thatched, surrounded by a wall walk linked by stairs to the ground floor. The broch features two hearths and a subterranean stone cistern with steps leading down into it. It is thought to have some religious significance, relating to an Iron Age cult of the underground.

The remains of the central tower are up to 3.6 metres high, and the stone walls are up to 4.1 metres thick.

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore di Siponto

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Timeless Treasures of Wales

Gothic Cathedrals of Belgium

Migthy Cathar Castles

Historic Site of the week

Broch of Gurness