Rapolla Cathedral ( it, Duomo di Rapolla; Concattedrale di San Michele Arcangelo) is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denominatio ...

in the town of

Rapolla Rapolla is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Barile, Lavello, Melfi, Rionero in Vulture, Venosa. The ancient sarcophagus of Rapolla takes its name from ...

, province of Potenza, region of Basilicata, Italy. The dedication is to

Saint Michael the Archangel Michael (; he, מִיכָאֵל, lit=Who is like El od, translit=Mīḵāʾēl; el, Μιχαήλ, translit=Mikhaḗl; la, Michahel; ar, ميخائيل ، مِيكَالَ ، ميكائيل, translit=Mīkāʾīl, Mīkāl, Mīkhāʾīl), a ...

. Formerly the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Rapolla, it is now a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa.

History and description

The structure was erected in a Romanesque style in 1209 on the site of a paleochristian building, possibly occupying the site of a pagan temple. The belltower was designed by Sarolo di Muro Lucano. Rebuilt a few decades later in 1253, by

Melchiorre da Montalbano Melchiorre da Montalbano was an Italian architect and sculptor, active in the 13th century in the region of Basilicata. Details of his life are few. He is said to have been born in Montalbano, and worked under or with Bartolomeo da Foggia. He w ...

, it has survived in this earthquake-prone region. The interior with three naves, separated by columns and arches, houses a 16th-century crucifix with bas-reliefs depicting ''Adam and Eve'' and the ''Annunciation'' by Sarolo da Muro Lucano. The apse also has a 13th-century carved polychrome wooden crucifix.Tourism Promotion Agency of Basilicata

References

{{coord, 40.9775, N, 15.6769, E, source:wikidata, display=title Roman Catholic cathedrals in Italy Cathedrals in Basilicata Romanesque architecture in Basilicata Churches in the province of Potenza