Atri - Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta

Atri was known as Hadria, when the Romans founded a colony here in 282BC. Actually Roman emperor Hadrian's family originally derived from this place. After the fall of the Roman Imperium, the Lombards established hegemony over the area in the 6th century and Atri got annexed to the Duchy of Spoleto. The Lombards were displaced by the Normans, whose noble House of Acquaviva family ruled the town from about 1393, before merging their lands into the Kingdom of Naples in 1757.

The present cathedral has several predecessor buildings, that were founded in the ruins of a Roman thermal from the 2nd century. It was consecrated in 1223. Reconstructions occurred during the following two centuries. The sober white stone façade has a large portal designed by Raimondo del Poggio and Rainaldo d'Atri between 1288 and 1305.

The right side wall of the cathedral has three portals. This portal was created in 1305 by Rainaldo d'Atri in Gothic style. The fresco representing the Coronation of Mary was executed an unknown artist.

This portal is a "Porta Sancta" ("Holy Door"). There are only a few churches in the world that have a "Porta Sancta" and the plenary indulgence associated with it. In 1295 the Porta Sancta of Atri is mentioned, which was built in that period. It is assumed that originally there must have been a small portal, which was then replaced by the present one in 1305. Even today the Holy Door is solemnly opened on August 14 in the presence of thousands of people and closed 8 days later, on August 22.