Acquaviva Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Acquaviva Cathedral is the principal church of Acquaviva delle Fonti
in Apulia
, Italy
. It is now a co-cathedral
of the Diocese of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti. Previously it was the palatine church of Acquaviva delle Fonti, which became part of the territorial prelature of Altamura e Acquaviva delle Fonti formed by Pius IX in 1848, when he added Acquaviva to the existing territorial prelature of Altamura.
church was built in the 12th century (from 1158 onwards) on the ruins of a shrine of Messapian
origin, by order of the Norman lord Roberto Gurguglione. The church was originally dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The increasing population rendered the building too small, and from 1529 an enlargement and reconstruction in Renaissance
style began under Giovanni Antonio Donato Acquaviva. It was opened to worship in 1594 under Alberto Acquaviva, and re-dedicated to Saint Eustace
in 1623 by Ascanio Gesualdo, Archbishop of Bari and Canosa.
From its inception it was declared a "palatine
" church, that is, one belonging to the king (from the Latin palatium: "royal palace"), probably in order to keep it out of the hands of the archbishops of Bari. Palatine churches, of which there were four in Apulia, were exempt from episcopal jurisdiction, and came instead under that of the sovereign, who usually nominated and paid their clergy.
Acquaviva delle Fonti
Acquaviva delle Fonti is a town and comune in the province of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy.-Buildings:Acquaviva Cathedral is located here, since 1986 a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti.-Famous people from Acquaviva delle Fonti:*Roberto Colaninno,...
in Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is now a co-cathedral
Co-cathedral
A co-cathedral is a cathedral church which shares the function of being a bishop's seat, or cathedra, with another cathedral. Instances of this occurred in England before the Protestant Reformation in the dioceses of Bath and Wells, and of Coventry and Lichfield, hence the names of these dioceses...
of the Diocese of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti. Previously it was the palatine church of Acquaviva delle Fonti, which became part of the territorial prelature of Altamura e Acquaviva delle Fonti formed by Pius IX in 1848, when he added Acquaviva to the existing territorial prelature of Altamura.
History
A RomanesqueRomanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
church was built in the 12th century (from 1158 onwards) on the ruins of a shrine of Messapian
Messapii
thumb|220px|Messapic ceramic, Archaeological Museum of [[Oria, Italy|Oria]], Apulia.The Messapii were an ancient tribe that inhabited, in historical times, the south-eastern peninsula or "heel" of Italy , known variously in ancient times as Calabria, Messapia and Iapygia...
origin, by order of the Norman lord Roberto Gurguglione. The church was originally dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The increasing population rendered the building too small, and from 1529 an enlargement and reconstruction in Renaissance
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
style began under Giovanni Antonio Donato Acquaviva. It was opened to worship in 1594 under Alberto Acquaviva, and re-dedicated to Saint Eustace
Saint Eustace
Saint Eustace, also known as Eustachius or Eustathius, was a legendary Christian martyr who lived in the 2nd century AD. A martyr of that name is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, which, however, judges that the legend recounted about him is "completely fabulous." For that reason...
in 1623 by Ascanio Gesualdo, Archbishop of Bari and Canosa.
From its inception it was declared a "palatine
Palatine
A palatine or palatinus is a high-level official attached to imperial or royal courts in Europe since Roman times...
" church, that is, one belonging to the king (from the Latin palatium: "royal palace"), probably in order to keep it out of the hands of the archbishops of Bari. Palatine churches, of which there were four in Apulia, were exempt from episcopal jurisdiction, and came instead under that of the sovereign, who usually nominated and paid their clergy.