Cattedrale di Santa Maria della Purificazione

On the highest point of Termoli's walled old town stands the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Purificazione. Its Romanesque forms, crypt and the relics of the city's patron saints Basso and Timoteo make it a landmark of the Borgo Vecchio.

Why it matters

The cathedral is a notable example of Apulian Romanesque architecture and has occupied the highest part of Termoli's old settlement since the medieval period. Its crypt preserves the relics of the city's patron saints.

What to notice

The facade bears the marks of centuries of change. The 1456 earthquake destroyed its upper section, and the 1566 Turkish raid caused further damage. A restoration campaign from 1930 to 1969 removed later Baroque additions and recovered the Romanesque appearance. Inside, cruciform pillars divide the church into three naves beneath a timber-truss roof. The crypt holds the relics of Saint Basso, found in 1761, and Saint Timoteo, found in 1945. Remains of an 11th-century basilica lie below the present church.

Context and history

Archaeological evidence at the site includes Bronze Age finds and traces of an earlier cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria, with three apses and a floor mosaic. The current cathedral was begun toward the end of the 12th century; its attribution to Alfano da Termoli and financing by merchants from Ravello are reported traditions. The building was restored after the 1456 earthquake and 1566 raid, and the 20th-century campaign removed later additions.