Cattedrale della Madonna del Ponte

Lanciano's Cathedral of the Madonna del Ponte rests on the arches of an ancient bridge over the Pietrosa stream. Its Baroque interior contains a fresco cycle attributed to Giacinto Diana and a marble high altar made in 1793.

Why it matters

The cathedral joins Roman engineering with centuries of Christian worship. The bridge formed part of ancient Anxanum, and a chapel built over it became the nucleus of the church. The cathedral remains central to Lanciano's religious and civic identity.

What to notice

The interior is arranged around a domed cupola and presbytery. The frescoes, attributed to the Neapolitan painter Giacinto Diana, were executed in 1788–1789 and include biblical scenes and the Evangelists. The high altar, made in 1793 by the workshop of Felice and Loreto Di Cicco of Pescocostanzo, has a late-Baroque marble antependium; Giuseppangelo Ronzi carved the marble frames around its side paintings. A statue of the Madonna del Ponte stands in a niche at the end of the presbytery.

Context and history

The Roman bridge crossed the Pietrosa ditch and linked districts of ancient Anxanum. Local tradition says a terracotta image of the Madonna, hidden in one of the bridge piers, reappeared after the earthquake of 1088, and that a chapel was then raised above it. The building was remodelled from 1757 under Archbishop Giacomo Leto, with sculptor Crescenzo Trinchese contributing to the interior. Work on the present facade began around 1800 and continued into the 19th century; the finished facade is associated with architect Eugenio Michitelli. The city honours the Madonna del Ponte during its annual Feste di Settembre.