Mausoleo di Boemondo d'Altavilla

The mausoleum of Bohemond of Hauteville stands against the cathedral of San Sabino in Canosa di Puglia. Built after his death in 1111, it commemorates the Norman prince of Antioch and leader of the First Crusade.

Why it matters

Bohemond's tomb links Norman Apulia with the eastern Mediterranean. He commanded at the siege of Antioch during the First Crusade and ruled as prince of Antioch. His mausoleum is an unusual medieval monument in southern Italy, built beside the cathedral and clad in reused marble.

What to notice

The square base is decorated with blind arches and pilaster strips, with a small apse projecting from one side. Above it rises a polygonal drum whose arches rest on columns and support the dome. The bronze door is a distinctive feature; it has been attributed to the bronze-worker Ruggero di Melfi. Inside, two columns carry the vault, while the tomb slab set into the floor bears the name of the man buried there.

Context and history

The mausoleum was erected after Bohemond died at Canosa in 1111. The cultural heritage catalogue considers it likely that his mother, Alberada, commissioned the monument. Its design has often been compared with the aedicule of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a place Bohemond had encountered during the First Crusade. The building incorporates reused Roman and early medieval materials and remains attached to the cathedral complex, a prominent religious centre of Norman Apulia.