Bitonto - Concattedrale di Bitonto

Bitonto, today a city of a population of about 55000, was probably founded by Greek settlers. Traces of a city wall dating to the 5th and 4th century BC were found. Legends tell that the name Bitonto is connected to an Illyrian king named Botone. Later "Civitas Butuntinenses" became a self-governing Roman municipium,

A Paleochristian basilica existed very early. During the 9th century, Bitonto successfully withstood a Saracen raid but got destroyed by Byzantine troops in 975. The Normans took over Apulia. In the 11th and 12th century. Under the rule of the Normans of Roger II of Sicily, William I of Sicily (aka William the Wicked) and William II of Sicily (aka William the Good), the city prospered and got new walls.

In 1227, Bitonto was the scene of ex-communication of Frederick II accused by pope Gregory IX of having come to terms with the sultan al-Malik al-Kamil.

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The Bitonto Cathedral, dedicated to San Valentino, was erected 1175/1200 in the centre of the city. The construction was probably influenced by the "Basilica of San Nicola" in Bari and was done in the typical "Apulian Romanesque" style.

It is proven that the bishopric existed in 1089, though the crypt of the cathedral has remains of a 5th-century church.

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The marble ambo, a combined pulpit and lectern, a masterpiece of medieval Apulian stone carving.

Originally the ambo was placed on the right side of the nave but during the Baroque alteration of the church, the ambo was dismantled in the 17th century. Most, but not all parts of the ambo survived, in 1720 the ambo was assembled again at the place, where it is now.

A large eagle is supported by a human caryatid. On the small pillars, left and right are the symbols of two evangelists. At the bottom a long inscription, what is the signature of the artist (or the leader of the studio). HOC OPUS FECIT NICOLAUS SACERDOS ET MAGISTER ANNO MILLESIMO DUCENTESIMO VICESIMO NON I(N)DICTIONIS SECUNDE = This work was done by priest and master Nicolaus in 1229.