Barletta - Duomo di Barletta

The Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Romans have been here. In 216 BC, during the second Punic war, the Battle of Canne was fought nearby which led to the heavy defeat of the Romans by Hannibal's army. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the area was taken over by the Normans, who built a fortress here. During the time of the Crusades, Barletta became an important gathering point for the armies of knights. The city had its heyday under Frederick II, who in 1228 announced the sixth crusade during the Diet held here. Following the Muslim conquest in the Holy Land, the Archbishops of Nazareth took permanent refuge in Barletta in 1327.

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The Duomo di Barletta (aka "Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore") was erected in Romanesque and later Gothic style from the 12th to the 14th century.

The church occupies the site of ancient structures attributed to a temple dedicated to Neptune. Already in the 6th century, a palaeo-Christian basilica existed here. After Canosa had been destroyed by Muslim raiders, numerous clerics moved to Barletta. Traces of the church they erected can still be seen. A Romanesque church was built over this in Norman times, late 12th century the bell tower was raised. The church was consecrated in 1267 but was not completed before the 14th century.

The ciborium is a way to visually highlight the altar, and so emphasize its importance.