Conversano - Cattedrale di Conversano

A settlement named Norba existed in the early times. It was conquered by the Romans in 268 BC and seems to have been abandoned around the time of the Visigothic invasion of Italy around 410.

The town recovered and was a bishopric seat from the 7th century on. This new town gained importance under the name Conversano, when, in 1054, the Norman lord Geoffrey, assumed the title of "Count of Conversano". He turned Conversano into the capital of a large county. After the count's death in 1101, the county was inherited by his sons Robert and Alexander. Alexander got defeated in 1132 by Roger II of Sicily, and the county was assigned to Roger`s brother in law Robert I of Basseville.

The cathedral was built in the 11th and 12th centuries on the site of an old place of worship and an earlier church. In 1358-1379 it was rebuilt, keeping its original form, and additional sculptures were added, especially on the facade.

The gable facade is divided into three parts with pilasters, in the upper part, there is a twelve-light rose window from the 15th century. The middle of the three portals is richly decorated with sculptures and shows two figures of lions.