Campanile della Cattedrale

The bell tower of Gravina's cathedral rises beside Santa Maria Assunta above the historic town. Medieval elements survive within a structure repeatedly rebuilt and crowned by an onion-shaped dome.

Why it matters

The tower records the effects of damage, repair and patronage on a major civic landmark. Its history is associated with Cardinal Vincenzo Maria Orsini, the Gravina-born prelate who became Pope Benedict XIII.

What to notice

Four square orders separated by cornices organise the elevation. Earlier windows and an inscription remain within the later fabric, while the domed crown gives the silhouette a Baroque character. Historic bells and traces of former uses inside add different periods to the architectural story.

Context and history

Earthquakes and a lightning strike prompted successive rebuilding campaigns. Major work under Bishop Cavalieri around the turn of the eighteenth century contributed to the tower's present form. Orsini's financial support formed part of the longer history of restoring this cathedral landmark.