Ottana - San Nicola

Ottana was the center of a diocese between 1112 and 1503. San Nicola, now a parish church, was a cathedral once.

The church, placed on a hill, was erected on foundations of an older byzantine structure within the first half 12th century from black trachyt slabs. San Nicola was built on a "Tau Cross" floor plan.

In 1912 a parchment was found, hidden under the main altar, describing and dating the consecration performed by "Zacharias Episcopus" in 1160.

A cathedra, the bishop's seat, was (and still is) essential for a cathedral. All such chairs I found sofar were "thrones" - so this chair is probably not Zacharias Episcopus´ cathedra, though it looks as old as the church itself.