Brindisi - Cattedrale di Brindisi

Settlers, who did trade with Greece, lived here already during the Bronze Age. After the Punic Wars, it became a major center of Roman naval power and maritime trade. After the decline of the Roman Empire Brindisi was conquered by Ostrogoths, and reconquered by the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. In 674 it was destroyed by the Lombards led by Romuald I of Benevento, It was rebuilt and within the 9th century. It was under the Saracen rule from 836 to 868, when it was retaken by the Byzantines. In 1070, it was conquered by the Normans, led by Robert Guiskard.

Brindisi flourished under the Staufer and developed into a privileged port for the Holy Land during the period of the Crusades. It was an Episcopal See and a new cathedral was constructed, in which the wedding of Norman Prince Roger III of Sicily and Irene Angelina, daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Isaac II Angelos took place.

Emperor Frederick II and Isabella of Brienne embarked from the port of Brindisi in 1228 for the Sixth Crusade.

Todays cathedral was erected in Baroque style after, in February 1743, a violent earthquake completely destroyed the Romanesque cathedral, that had been built after the Norman conquest of Brindisi. Pope Urban II had laid the foundation stone in 1089. It was completed in 1143 and played an important part in the medieval history of Puglia. Roger III. was crowned king here in 1191. A year later he married Irene Angelina of Byzantium in the cathedral. Emperor Friedrich II married the 13 years old Isabella II, Queen of Jerusalem here 9th of November 1225. During the ceremony, Frederick declared himself King of Jerusalem.


I have already uploaded many photos taken in Brindisi during previous visits, so I will only upload a few. If you want to see more, click here:

www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1333376