Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Ruvo Cathedral

The area was colonized between the 8th and 5th centuries BC by the Greeks. Around the 4th century BC the village conducted commercial exchanges with most of the Italic populations and minted its own currency. Ruvo established itself as a thriving polis of Magna Graecia. After the end of the Hellenistic age in Apulia, the town played a role for the Roman Republic, first being assigned Roman citizenship, then the title of municipium and finally becoming the station of the Via Traiana. In the 5th century, Ruvo disappeared under the blows of the invasions of the Goths which reduced the city to a pile of rubble. Ruvo, refounded on the slopes of the original hill, was first conquered by the Lombards and then fell prey to the Saracens. It was the people who decided then to equip themselves with a wall with towers. In the 11th century, Ruvo entered the county of Conversano and suffered violence due to internal struggles for power, which conflicts led to the second destruction of the town. However, it was under Frederick II that Ruvo finally recognized cultural and economic growth, a period marked by the construction of the Romanesque-Gothic cathedral. Ruvo Cathedral was the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Ruvo, it is now a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi. The building was built between the 12th and 13th centuries, with several later alterations. The current exterior is the result of early 20th-century restoration works which removed all the Baroque additions. The church has a sloped façade with three portals. The central one, flanked by two columns standing on lions and surmounted by griffins, has internal reliefs which were once part of an earlier construction. The smaller ones, at the sides, have a simpler shape, with two semi-columns supporting ogival arches; they also belonged to previous buildings. The main portal

The area was colonized between the 8th and 5th centuries BC by the Greeks. Around the 4th century BC the village conducted commercial exchanges with most of the Italic populations and minted its own currency. Ruvo established itself as a thriving polis of Magna Graecia. After the end of the Hellenistic age in Apulia, the town played a role for the Roman Republic, first being assigned Roman citizenship, then the title of municipium and finally becoming the station of the Via Traiana. In the 5th century, Ruvo disappeared under the blows of the invasions of the Goths which reduced the city to a pile of rubble. Ruvo, refounded on the slopes of the original hill, was first conquered by the Lombards and then fell prey to the Saracens. It was the people who decided then to equip themselves with a wall with towers. In the 11th century, Ruvo entered the county of Conversano and suffered violence due to internal struggles for power, which conflicts led to the second destruction of the town. However, it was under Frederick II that Ruvo finally recognized cultural and economic growth, a period marked by the construction of the Romanesque-Gothic cathedral. Ruvo Cathedral was the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Ruvo, it is now a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi. The building was built between the 12th and 13th centuries, with several later alterations. The current exterior is the result of early 20th-century restoration works which removed all the Baroque additions. The church has a sloped façade with three portals. The central one, flanked by two columns standing on lions and surmounted by griffins, has internal reliefs which were once part of an earlier construction. The smaller ones, at the sides, have a simpler shape, with two semi-columns supporting ogival arches; they also belonged to previous buildings.

Ruvo di Puglia, founded probably by Greek settlers, was a "municipium" in Roman times. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it got destroyed by Visigothic troops in the 5th centuryand later again by the Lombards. It was then Byzantine and later under Saracen and the Norman power. The Ruvo Cathedral, once the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Ruvo, is now a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi. It was built over a previous church and is an important example of late Apulian Romanesque architecture, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The current exterior is the result of early 20th-century restoration works which removed the Baroque additions. During the restorations some carvings may not have been restored, but replaced. This elephant looks - well - fresh and more than that it is anatomically perfect. So it may well be an "improved" copy of a medieval predecessor.

Ruvo di Puglia, founded probably by Greek settlers, was a "municipium" in Roman times. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it got destroyed by Visigothic troops in the 5th centuryand later again by the Lombards. It was then Byzantine and later under Saracen and the Norman power. The Ruvo Cathedral, once the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Ruvo, is now a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi. It was built over a previous church and is an important example of late Apulian Romanesque architecture, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The church's subterranean rooms include the remains of a Palaeo-Christian church (5th-6th centuries) and Roman and Peucetian tombs. First traces of this church below the Romanesque one were discovered during renovation works in 1925. Investigations conducted in 1974/75 led to the discovery of the rich subsoil . It can be assumed that the cathedral was built on the rubble of a place that has always been frequented over the centuries by Peuceti, Romans and the medieval population.

Ruvo di Puglia, founded probably by Greek settlers, was a "municipium" in Roman times. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it got destroyed by Visigothic troops in the 5th centuryand later again by the Lombards. It was then Byzantine and later under Saracen and the Norman power. The Ruvo Cathedral, once the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Ruvo, is now a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi. It was built over a previous church and is an important example of late Apulian Romanesque architecture, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The current exterior is the result of early 20th-century restoration works which removed the Baroque additions. The church has a sloped façade with three portals. The current exterior and interior are results of early 20th-century restoration works which removed the Baroque additions. A pride of lions populates the nave´s capitals, though some of the carvings seem to be new.

Ruvo di Puglia, founded probably by Greek settlers, was a "municipium" in Roman times. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it got destroyed by Visigothic troops in the 5th centuryand later again by the Lombards. It was then Byzantine and later under Saracen and the Norman power. The Ruvo Cathedral, once the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Ruvo, is now a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi. It was built over a previous church and is an important example of late Apulian Romanesque architecture, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The current exterior is the result of early 20th-century restoration works which removed the Baroque additions. The church has a sloped façade with three portals. The current exterior and interior are results of early 20th-century restoration works which removed the Baroque additions.

Ruvo di Puglia, founded probably by Greek settlers, was a "municipium" in Roman times. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it got destroyed by Visigothic troops in the 5th centuryand later again by the Lombards. It was then Byzantine and later under Saracen and the Norman power. The Ruvo Cathedral, once the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Ruvo, is now a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi. It was built over a previous church and is an important example of late Apulian Romanesque architecture, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The current exterior is the result of early 20th-century restoration works which removed the Baroque additions. The church has a sloped façade with three portals. The central one is larger and sophisticatly decorated. Between the portal and a large 16th-century rose window is this double mullioned window with a bas-relief of the "Archangel Michael Defeating the Devil". Note the left side of the window. "Pillar eaters" are pretty common in Romanesque times, but two pillars in one mouth are rarely seen.

Ruvo di Puglia, founded probably by Greek settlers, was a "municipium" in Roman times. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it got destroyed by Visigothic troops in the 5th centuryand later again by the Lombards. It was then Byzantine and later under Saracen and the Norman power. The Ruvo Cathedral, once the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Ruvo, is now a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi. It was built over a previous church and is an important example of late Apulian Romanesque architecture, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The current exterior is the result of early 20th-century restoration works which removed the Baroque additions. The church has a sloped façade with three portals. The central and larger one is flanked by two columns surmounted by griphons (here left and right). The outer archivolt has Christ in the center, flanked by the Virgin and John the Baptist, while all the apostles line the curve. Below is the Lamb of God and the symbols of the evangelists.

Ruvo di Puglia, founded probably by Greek settlers, was a "municipium" in Roman times. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it got destroyed by Visigothic troops in the 5th centuryand later again by the Lombards. It was then Byzantine and later under Saracen and the Norman power. The Ruvo Cathedral, once the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Ruvo, is now a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi. It was built over a previous church and is an important example of late Apulian Romanesque architecture, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The current exterior is the result of early 20th-century restoration works which removed the Baroque additions. The church has a sloped façade with three portals. The central and larger one is flanked by two columns standing on lions and surmounted by griphons. The lions are supported by telamons. Seen in the archivolt are the twelve apostles.

Ruvo di Puglia, founded probably by Greek settlers, was a "municipium" in Roman times. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it got destroyed by Visigothic troops in the 5th centuryand later again by the Lombards. It was then Byzantine and later under Saracen and the Norman power. The Ruvo Cathedral, once the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Ruvo, is now a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi. It is an important example of late Apulian Romanesque architecture, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The current exterior is the result of early 20th-century restoration works which removed the Baroque additions. The church has a sloped façade with three portals. The central and larger one is flanked by two columns standing on lions and surmounted by griphons. It has internal reliefs which were once part of an earlier construction. The smaller ones, at the sides, have a simpler shape, with two semi-columns supporting ogival arches; they also belonged to previous buildings. Above the portal is a double mullioned window with a bas-relief of the "Archangel Michael Defeating the Devil", and above it, a 16th-century rose window. This is in turn surmounted by the "Sedente" ("Sitting One"), an enigmatic figure which has been variously identified as Robert III of Loritello, who funded the construction, while at the top of façade is a statue of the Redeemer.