Chiesa di San Domenico

The Church of San Domenico stands near the harbour in Monopoli's old town. Its sculpted rose window and richly decorated interior preserve a layered history of Dominican presence and artistic change from the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries.

Why it matters

In April 1528, Venetian forces destroyed buildings outside Monopoli's walls, including the Dominican convent and church of Santa Maria della Nova. The order received permission to rebuild in 1530. The present church was established within the walls near the port between the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

What to notice

Sculptural figures of Christ crowned with thorns, Saint Dominic and the Madonna with Child decorate the rose window. The interior has three naves, a dome and an apse with Gothic features. The ceiling, painted by Gerolamo Cenatiempo in 1703, and an altar attributed to Manieri and dated 1741–42 reflect the church's Baroque decoration. A painting by Palma il Giovane is also recorded in the municipal inventory.

Context and history

The Dominican convent became one of the major religious complexes in this part of the old town. Its surviving cloister and Renaissance loggias remain beside the church. The building's artworks and architectural fabric record successive changes to Monopoli's religious life and artistic traditions.