Description of the attraction
The Cosenza Cathedral, named after Santa Maria Assunta, was built around the first half of the 11th century, although the exact date of its construction is unknown. The cathedral stands in the historic center of Cosenza in Piazza Duomo, next to Corso Telesio. In 1981, it received the status of the Temple of Madonna del Pilerio, and in 2011 it was included in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.
The history of the cathedral is marked by numerous reconstructions and modifications. The first cathedral was built in the Romanesque style, but in June 1184 it was destroyed during a terrible earthquake and rebuilt only in 1222, already according to the canons of Cistercian architecture. At the same time, in the 13th century, it was consecrated in the presence of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Interestingly, the architect responsible for the restoration of the cathedral was Luca Campano, who later became Archbishop of Cosenza. In 1748, Santa Maria Assunta underwent another reconstruction - then the cathedral acquired baroque features that hid its original forms. Unfortunately, in the course of that reconstruction, a number of works of art that adorned it disappeared from the church. In 1831, the façade of the cathedral was redesigned in the neo-Gothic style, and in 1886 the transept and the choir were also given a Gothic look.
Today, in the cathedral, in the transept, you can see the grave of Isabella of Aragon, wife of the French king Philip III. The long side nave of the temple connects it with the Palazzo Archivescovile, the Archbishop's Palace, which houses Luca Giordano's Immaculate Conception. There you can also admire the amazing beauty of the staurotek donated by Emperor Frederick II in honor of the consecration of the cathedral - it was made in the imperial jewelry workshops in a mixed Muslim-Byzantine style.
