Cattedrale di Locri (Santa Maria del Mastro)

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Mastro is the diocesan cathedral in Locri. Its Neo-Renaissance architecture belongs to the early twentieth-century development of the coastal town.

Why it matters

The church is the cathedral of the Diocese of Locri-Gerace, while the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta in Gerace holds the title of co-cathedral. The dedication Santa Maria del Mastro also recalls the older church of that name in Gerace.

What to notice

The Neo-Renaissance exterior and three-aisled interior distinguish the building from the medieval religious architecture of the hilltop town. The church’s forms express the development of the coastal settlement, formerly known as Gerace Marina, into modern Locri.

Context and history

The present church took shape in the early twentieth century. Its history is linked with the transfer of diocesan functions from Gerace to the coast. In 1954 the see took the name Gerace-Locri, and in 1986 it became the Diocese of Locri-Gerace. The cathedral at Locri and co-cathedral at Gerace preserve the religious relationship between the two towns.