Larino Cathedral

Larino Cathedral Co-Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and San Pardo
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic Church
Province	Termoli-Larino
Region	Molise
Rite	Roman Rite
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Co-Cathedral
Year consecrated	1319, 1729
Location
Location	Larino
State	Italy
Geographic coordinates	41.80094°N 14.91008°E / 41.80094; 14.91008
Architecture
Type	Church
Style	Gothic-Romanesque
Groundbreaking	13th - 14th century

Larino Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Larino; Basilica concattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e San Pardo) is located in Larino in the Province of Campobasso. In June 1928, Pope Pius XI raised it to the dignity of minor basilica.

History

A room under the modern floor level of the basilica

The foundation of the church dates to the thirteenth century. An inscription in the entranceway records its consecration on 30 July 1319. The cathedral may have been built on the location of a pre-existing temple, but its dates (and existence) are entirely unknown.

The decorative styles and construction techniques indicate that construction continued from the end of the 13th century and until the beginning of the 14th century, with work directed by several successive architects.

The facade

In the 14th century, frescos depicting the saints were painted on the pilasters. Paintings were produced to decorate the trussed ceiling. No notable changes were made to the church in the 14th century, except for the installation of the relics of St Pardo in an altar in the right side-nave. In the 16th century, the campanile was completed. Its basement had been built by Giovanni di Casalbore of Avellino in 1451. In 1537, a fresco of the Annunciation was added to the left of the main entrance. A number of private individuals commissioned works in the cathedral in the same century. Many of these are still extant, including numerous altars.

For the artistica vitality of the basilica, the seventeeth century was a time of crisis. In 1656, the plague struck the community, leaving many victims. The survivors were reduced to poverty. To restore the economic and religious standing of the city, Mons. Catalani decorated the church with precious objects, including a statue of San Pardo, which has since been stolen.

The interior

In the baroque period, the level of floor was raised, two windows were installed, flanking the entrance and the nave of the church was lengthened. Some private altars were removed, since their number was considered excessive.

Sixteenth century fresco of the Annunciatione

The transformation of the architectural character of the cathedral, from Medieval to baroque, was carried out under Bishop Giovanni Andrea Tria. The trussed ceiling was replaced with coffers and stucco ornaments were added to the gothic vaults in the nave. He built the chancel, installing a new altar and cathedra in it, both made of polychrome marble by Neapolitan artists. The church was reconsecrated in 1729, while the construction work was still in progress.

The nineteenth century was characterised by the rediscovery of the Medieval architecture and a renewed appreciation of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. This also occurred at the Duomo of Larino, whose original character was rediscovered and praised. The leader of this movement was the Bishop Francesco Giampaolo. He gave the windows pointed arches, decorated the coffers with Neogothic paintings by Ludovico Palladino and added an arch with gothic features to the chancel. The arcade and capitals of the central nave were decorated in a thirteenth century style. The same bishop made some structural modifications to the basilica, extending the two side aisles towards the chancel and moving the altar back. Later, further changes were made to the furnishings of the chancel.

Restoration work was undertaken to consolidate the structure from 1931, including the campanile, which was destroyed by a lightening strike in 1943.

Internet Sources

* A Virtual Tour of Larino's Cathedral