Cattedrale di Sessa Aurunca, Medieval cathedral in Sessa Aurunca, Italy.
The Cattedrale di Sessa Aurunca is a Romanesque and Baroque church in the center of Sessa Aurunca, in the Campania region of southern Italy. Inside, three naves run along the length of the building, supported by columns taken from older Roman and medieval structures, and a crypt sits beneath the main floor.
Building work started in 1113, using stone taken from the Roman town that had stood on the same site, and the cathedral was consecrated in 1183. Over the following centuries the building was altered several times, which gave the interior its present Baroque character.
The three-arch marble portico at the entrance carries carved scenes from the life of Saint Peter and from the Book of Genesis. For medieval worshippers who could not read, these carvings served as a way to understand the stories of their faith.
The cathedral is generally open to visitors, who can walk through the naves and go down into the crypt below. A morning visit tends to work well, as the natural light comes in at a good angle and makes it easier to see the columns and carved details.
The pulpit inside rests on six granite columns and was made during the time of Bishop Pandolfo, between 1224 and 1259. Many visitors do not notice that the crypt below is supported by twenty columns, none of which match, since each one was taken from a different ancient building.
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