Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: San Domenico

The town known as Consentia was first mentioned in connection with the expedition of the Molossian king Alexander I from Epirus to southern Italy around 330 BC. In 204 BC. it came under Roman rule but was heavily influenced by Greek culture. In 410, Alaric I, king of the Visigoths, is said to have died in Cosenza after the sack of Rome and was buried with his booty in the riverbed of the Busento. The grave has never been found. German poet von Platen wrote the ballad "Das Grab im Busento" about it in 1820. After the end of the Roman Empire, Cosenza fell to the Byzantines and was then fiercely disputed between the Lombards and Saracens. In the 7th century, it became the seat of a diocese. In the 11th century the city came under the rule of the Normans. Under the Staufers, it was the seat of the Calabrian court. Subsequently, Cosenza fiercely resisted the rule of the Angevins. In 1461 it was conquered by Roberto Orsini, suffering serious damage. From 1500 it was under the control of Spain. Today it is a thriving city with a population of about 70.000 and not enough parking lots, so we could not really dive into it. The Church of San Domenico is located on the left bank of the Busento River. It was built between 1441 and 1468 by order of the Sanseverino family for the Dominicans, who had already settled in Cosenza since about 1240.

Stilo (Stilida) was part of the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. In 982 it suffered damage from a battle between Otto II . and the Arab-Byzantine troops. The battle had begun near Crotone, but when Otto's troops thought they had won, they were placed here and defeated. Otto II died a year later from malaria in Rome. During the Middle Ages, the coastal inhabitants moved further inland and moved to where Stilo is today. Between 1065 and 1071 Stilo resisted the Norman invasion. At that time it was fortified. Today Stilo is a small town with a population of around 2500. The church was built in the 15th century as part of a Dominican monastery, of which only ruins remain. OIt was built over a Byzantine church. In 1783, the monastery collapsed to its foundations during an earthquake. After being rebuilt in 1787, it became the seat of the parish. In 1927 it was closed for worship because of the collapse of the vault. It was partially rebuilt and in 1998 it was completely restored.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, became a possession of Carthage and later was part of the Roman Empire. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new Kingdom of Sicily and the capital of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Frederick II and King Conrad IV. Today Palermo is a bustling city with a population of about 700.000 plus - many many tourists. San Domeino hosts the tomb of Giovanni Falcone. He and Paolo Borsellino were as judges part of the "Antimafia Pool" that fought the Mafia in Sicily. They were very sucessfull, but the Sicilian Mafia struck back. Giovanni Falcone was assasinated in May 1992, Paolo Borsellino only two months later. The airport of Palermo is named "Falcone-Borsellino Airport".

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, became a possession of Carthage and later was part of the Roman Empire. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new Kingdom of Sicily and the capital of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Frederick II and King Conrad IV. Today Palermo is a bustling city with a population of about 700.000 plus - many many tourists. A first Dominican church was erected here in Gothic style around 1280. When this medieval church got too small, so a new church was built in Renaissance style, that again got replaced from 1640 on. The works required more than a century. The Baroque façade was completed in 1726, while the left bell tower dates from 1770 (prev. upload).

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, became a possession of Carthage and later was part of the Roman Empire. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new Kingdom of Sicily and the capital of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Frederick II and King Conrad IV. Today Palermo is a bustling city with a population of about 700.000 plus - many many tourists. A first Dominican church was erected here in Gothic style around 1280. When this meieval church got to small a new church was built in Renaissance style, that again got replaced from 1640 on. The works required more than a century. The Baroque façade was completed in 1726, while the left bell tower dates from 1770.

"San Domenico" dates to 1304, when it was erected over a pre-existing church (known as San Domenico Vecchio), which had become too small after the growth of the Dominican Order. The church was consecrated in 1459. Where on the right the "Basilica di San Pietro" can be seen, was the early seat of Perugia's bishops, existing since the seventh century. Around 1000 a monastery was established here. The church seen was erected around 1600 as the convent´s church.