Ruvo Cathedral, Romanesque co-cathedral in Ruvo di Puglia, Italy.
Ruvo Cathedral is a Romanesque co-cathedral in Ruvo di Puglia, built on a Latin cross plan with three naves and three apses. The interior holds polychrome wooden statues, frescoes, sacred silverware, and religious vestments.
Construction began in 1201 under Robert II of Bassavilla, after earlier religious buildings on the site were destroyed by raids. The new building re-established a major religious center for the town and shaped its identity for centuries.
The main facade has three doorways decorated with stone carvings of Christ, pilgrims, angels, peacocks, and griffins made by local craftspeople. Visitors who take time to study the details often find new figures hidden among the decorations with each look.
The cathedral is easy to reach on foot from the center of Ruvo di Puglia and has several entrances. Visitors should wear modest clothing and check opening times locally before planning a visit.
Excavations carried out in 1925 uncovered underground areas beneath the building containing tombs and objects from Peucetian, Roman, and medieval periods. These findings show that the site was used without interruption across many centuries, long before the current structure was built.
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