San Michele

San Michele is a neoclassical co-cathedral in Terlizzi with a facade of four column pairs supporting a pediment that frames three entrance doors of different sizes. The interior is organized as a three-nave layout with a broad transept, where the crossing is crowned by a barrel vault with a central dome.

The current building was constructed between 1783 and 1872, replacing an earlier Romanesque church dating to the Swabian period. This neoclassical rebuilding represented a major transformation of the city's sacred space.

Inside, large canvases by painter Michele De Napoli catch your eye in the transept, particularly 'The Dispute of the Sacrament' and 'The Return of Mary to Calvary' that define the visual character of the space. These works shape how visitors experience walking through the church.

The building stands on the main plaza of Terlizzi surrounded by residential structures, making it easy to locate from any direction. The neoclassical facade is clearly visible from the street, and visitors can enter through any of the three main entrance doors.

An original Romanesque portal carved by master craftsman Anseramo da Trani no longer stands at its original location but was moved to the side wall of the nearby Santa Maria del Rosario church. The portal displays three Gospel scenes in stone and shows the skill of medieval artisans in a setting separate from this cathedral.