Foggia - Cattedrale di Foggia

Foggia was part of the Roman Empire and after the decline of Rome was under Lombard and around 1000 under Byzantine rule until taken by the Normans. As the area was marshy Robert Guiscard directed draining the wetland, what boosted the growth of the city. In the 12th century, William II of Sicily built a cathedral here and further enlarged the settlement. In 1223 Emperor Frederick II had a palace built here in which he often sojourned, together with his notable court, including persons such as the scholar Michael Scotus, who served as science adviser and court astrologer. Not much remains of this palace.

The Foggia Cathedral (aka "Cattedrale della Santa Maria Assunta in Coelo") was constructed as a collegiate church around 1170. A legend tells, that in 1062 a shepherd had found a miraculous image of the Virgin, wrapped in seven veils (= "Madonna dei Sette Veli") here.

The cathedral got modified a couple of times and nearly completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1731. It got restored in a Baroque style. Only the lower part of the facade survived the earthquake is still Romanesque.