Terracina Cathedral

Terracina Cathedral is now a co-cathedral in the diocese of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno. The cathedral was built in the 5th-6th centuries using the remains of a Roman temple with five naves in the city forum. The building underwent many alterations and restorations, among them those of the 11th and 13th century. The extreme restoration in the Baroque style took place in the 18th century, which reduced the church from five naves to three with the construction of side chapels and the covering over of the Romanesque A-framed ceiling with barrel vaulting.

The portico, which stands at the top of a flight of 30 steps on the podium of the Roman temple, is of artistic interest. It contains six reused Classical columns with a triumphal arch in the centre, surmounted by an ancient entablature with mosaic decorations including the figures of a winged monster, an eagle, palms, deer, birds, bulls and other things. Beneath the portico are a funerary basin of the Roman age and pairs of beasts crouching to either side of the bases of the columns. A further 7 steps lead to the two entrances to the cathedral, of which the principal one is decorated with marble friezes of the Augustan period.

To the north of the portico is the Romanesque campanile, curiously raised above ground level on four pilasters.

The interior has three naves separated by reused Roman columns, with side chapels. The two side naves terminate in apses, while the central one (which also has an apse, dating from 1729), terminates in a quadrangular space occupied by the choir. The presbytery and the choir are about a metre higher than the three naves.

Address
Piazza Municipio 19, Terracina, Italy

Established
11th century