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The Cattolica di Stilo is a
The ''Cattolica'' is mainly built of brick. It follows a plan with "inscribed cross", typical of the middle Byzantine age. The interior is divided by four columns into five similar spaces. The square central space and the angled ones are covered by domes. The angled ones have tambours with the same diameter, while the central dome is slightly taller and larger.
The western sides lies on free rocks, while the southern area, ending with three apses, stands on three stone bases. The construction is in bricks.
The interior was once entirely covered with frescoes. The left apse has a bell built in 1577, when the church was converted to the Latin rite. The interior has also several inscriptions in
File:Affresco sul tetto - Cattolica di Stilo.JPG, Fresco on the roof
File:Affresco 1 cattolica di stilo.JPG, Fresco 1
File:Affresco 2 della Cattolica di Stilo.JPG, Fresco 2
File:Affresco 3 della Cattolica di Stilo.JPG, Fresco 3
File:Affresco 4 della Cattolica di Stilo.JPG, Fresco 4
File:Affresco 5 della Cattolica di Stilo.JPG, Fresco 5
File:Affresco cattolica pano 2014.jpg, Fresco 6
Page at calabriatours.org
{{Coord, 38, 28, 48, N, 16, 28, 04, E, source:kolossus-itwiki, display=title Byzantine sacred architecture Churches in the province of Reggio Calabria 9th-century churches in Italy Vallata dello Stilaro Buildings and structures in the Province of Reggio Calabria Stilo
The Cattolica di Stilo is a Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
church in the ''comune'' of Stilo
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( Province of Reggio), Calabria, southern Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
. It is a national monument.
History
The ''Cattolica'' was built in the 9th century, when Calabria was part of theByzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
. The name derives from the Greek word ''katholiki'', which referred to the churches provided with a baptistery
In Christian architecture the baptistery or baptistry (Old French ''baptisterie''; Latin ''baptisterium''; Greek , 'bathing-place, baptistery', from , baptÃzein, 'to baptize') is the separate centrally planned structure surrounding the baptismal ...
. It is one of the most important examples of Byzantine architecture, together with the church of San Marco in Rossano Calabro.
Architecture
The ''Cattolica'' is mainly built of brick. It follows a plan with "inscribed cross", typical of the middle Byzantine age. The interior is divided by four columns into five similar spaces. The square central space and the angled ones are covered by domes. The angled ones have tambours with the same diameter, while the central dome is slightly taller and larger.
The western sides lies on free rocks, while the southern area, ending with three apses, stands on three stone bases. The construction is in bricks.
The interior was once entirely covered with frescoes. The left apse has a bell built in 1577, when the church was converted to the Latin rite. The interior has also several inscriptions in Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
, which have led scholars to suspect it could have been also used as a Muslim oratory. One inscription translates to "There is only one true God".
Gallery
External links
Page at calabriatours.org
{{Coord, 38, 28, 48, N, 16, 28, 04, E, source:kolossus-itwiki, display=title Byzantine sacred architecture Churches in the province of Reggio Calabria 9th-century churches in Italy Vallata dello Stilaro Buildings and structures in the Province of Reggio Calabria Stilo