Church of Cattolica di Stilo description and photos - Italy: Calabria (Topic)

Church of Cattolica di Stilo description and photos - Italy: Calabria. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Cattolica di Stilo.

Photo and description

Cattolica di Stilo is a Byzantine church located in the town of Stilo in the Italian region of Calabria. The building is a national monument.

Cattolica was built in the 9th century when Calabria was part of the Byzantine Empire. The name of the church comes from the Greek word "Catholics", which means churches with baptisteries. Today Cattolica di Stilo, along with the Church of San Marco in the town of Rossano Calabro, is one of the most outstanding examples of Byzantine architecture.

The church was built in the form of an "inscribed cross", which was typical of the Byzantine architecture of that period. The interior is divided into five equal spaces by means of four columns. The central square room and the side ones are crowned with domes, moreover, the side vestibules have the same diameter. And the central dome is slightly higher and larger in size than the others. The southern part of the church, ending with three apses, stands on three stone foundations. The building of Cattolica itself is made of bricks.

The interior of the church was once entirely painted with frescoes. In the left apse there is a bell, cast in 1577, when the church was transferred to the hands of Catholics. In addition, inside you can see several inscriptions in Arabic, which allows us to make an assumption that Cattolica once served as a Muslim temple. One of the inscriptions reads: "There is only one God."

In the very town of Stilo, located 150 km from Reggio di Calabria, a number of interesting sights have been preserved. For example, the Cathedral, the churches of San Domenico and San Nicola da Tolentino, Roger II Norman Castle and Dolphin Fountain. The ancient monastery of San Giovanni Teristis is located nearby.

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Topic: Church of Cattolica di Stilo description and photos - Italy: Calabria.