San Domenico, Gothic church in Gaeta, Italy
San Domenico is a Gothic church in Gaeta featuring two naves covered by cross vaults and lit by pointed-arch windows. The structure is distinguished by a large arched portal on its front wall that serves as the main entrance.
Construction began in 1308 when Charles II of Anjou granted Dominican friars land to establish a new convent and church in the area. This foundation marked a significant moment in the religious expansion of medieval Gaeta.
The church served as a gathering place for the Confraternity of the Madonna del Rosario, whose members used the underground crypt to bury their dead for centuries. This underground chamber reflected the devotional practices of the local community until the 1800s.
The building underwent extensive restoration work from 1928 to 1930, during which Baroque decorations were removed to reveal the original Gothic design. After this restoration, the space reopened as an active place of worship.
The bell tower dates to the 12th century and originally belonged to an earlier Cistercian convent for women called Santa Maria della Maina. This older structure reveals how different religious buildings were layered together at this location over time.
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