San Cataldo Cathedral, the oldest in Puglia: history, the Baroque Cappellone, the crypt, opening times and how to visit it in Taranto's Old Town.
History
San Cataldo Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in Puglia. It stands in the heart of the Old Town and was initially dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, later to Saint Cataldus, bishop and patron saint of Taranto.
Its origins go back to the early Christian era, but the building we know today stems from the reconstruction ordered by the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros II Phokas in the tenth century, after the devastating Saracen sack of 927. The church was raised as a symbol of the city's Christian rebirth, reusing materials from the ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
In the following centuries the structure was transformed in the Norman age and enriched with Baroque splendour. In 1713 the Lecce architect Mauro Manieri redesigned the Baroque façade we still admire today.
What to see
The three-nave interior preserves sixteen reused columns with Greek and Roman capitals, traces of the medieval mosaic floor and the magnificent coffered ceiling in wood and gold, known as the "golden sky of the Cathedral".
The true jewel is the Cappellone di San Cataldo, built between 1657 and 1684: an elliptical chapel clad in polychrome marble inlays, mother-of-pearl and lapis lazuli, holding the saint's relics. It houses statues by Giuseppe Sammartino, the sculptor of Naples' famous Veiled Christ, and frescoes by Paolo De Matteis depicting the patron's miracles.
Beneath the high altar opens the Byzantine-era crypt, with fragments of medieval frescoes, an early Christian sarcophagus and the tombs of several archbishops of Taranto.
Did you know…
- It is the oldest cathedral in all of Puglia and an Italian national monument.
- According to tradition, Saint Cataldus was an Irish bishop shipwrecked near Taranto in the seventh century.
- The medieval mosaic floor, signed by a certain 'Petroius', depicts the Flight of Alexander the Great.
- The saint's relics were rediscovered near the Baptistery in 1071.
Practical information
| Hours | Every day, 8:30 – 12:30 and 16:00 – 19:30 (times may vary for services). |
|---|---|
| Ticket | Free entry. Donations welcome for conservation. Guided tours for a fee. |
| Accessibility | Accessible via a ramp at the main entrance; the central nave is easy to navigate, some older areas have limitations. |
| Getting there | In Via Duomo, in the heart of the Old Town. The area is restricted to traffic: best to park near the Swing Bridge and continue on foot. |
Tips for your visit
- Look up at the gilded coffered ceiling: it's one of the most striking features.
- Don't miss the Baroque Cappellone and the crypt beneath the high altar.
- Visit during the San Cataldo celebrations in May to experience its devotional atmosphere.