Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta

Atri - Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta Atri was known as Hadria when the Romans founded a colony here in 282BC. 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 interior of the cathedral was once covered with frescoes. Some were rediscovered in the 19th and 20th centuries under a thick layer of plaster. This fresco was created in the middle of the 14th century by an anonymous painter called "Maestro di Offida" (Master of Offida). Only the central part of this work has been preserved and shows the nursing Madonna and Child (Madonna del Latte) between three saints.

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 interior of the cathedral was once covered with frescoes. Some were rediscovered in the 19th and 20th centuries under a thick layer of plaster. From the 13th century comes "The Meeting of the Three Living and the Three Dead." The story goes back to a legend that tells how three noblemen meet three dead while hunting. The living are on the right (with horses and servants). On the left side are the dead. Two skeletons are standing, the third is just coming out of the coffin. The motif is a "Memento Mori", which found its climax in the many "Danse Macabre" (Dance of Death) in the times of the plague.

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 size of the Cathedral is 56.60 m long and 24.70 m wide.

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.

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. Here you can see the back two.

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.

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 church includes a campanile (56 meters) high, which was completed by Antonio da Lodi in the 15th century.

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. I have already uploaded dozens of shots from previous visits, so I´ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. Torcello island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon. It has been referred to as the parent island from which Venice was populated. It was a town with a cathedral and bishops before St Mark's Basilica was built. Torcello was one of the first lagoon islands to be populated by those Veneti who fled the "terra ferma" to take shelter from the barbarian invasions, especially after Attila the Hun had destroyed the city of Altinum in 452. In 638, Torcello became the bishop’s official seat for more than a thousand years and the people of Altinum brought with them the relics of Saint Heliodorus, now the patron saint of the island. Torcello rapidly grew in importance as a political and trading center. In pre-Medieval times, Torcello was a much more powerful trading center than Venice. A serious issue for Torcello was that the swamp area of the lagoon around the island increased by the 14th century. Navigation in the laguna was impossible and traders ceased calling at the island. The growing swamps also seriously aggravated malaria. As a result, by the late 14th century, a substantial number of people left the island. In 1689, the bishopric transferred to Murano, and by 1797, the population had dropped to about 300. Today it is less than 20. Torcello's numerous palazzi, its twelve parishes, and its sixteen cloisters have almost disappeared since the Venetians recycled the useful building material. The island owes its importance in art history to the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. The basilica seen today was consecrated in 1008 and was probably completed by the middle of the 11th century. It has much 11th and 12th-century Byzantine work, including large mosaics. Judgement Day While in the backdrop the graves open, two angels blowing horns and luring man-devouring beasts. Behind the lion is an elephant.

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. I have already uploaded dozens of shots from previous visits, so I´ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. Torcello island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon. It has been referred to as the parent island from which Venice was populated. It was a town with a cathedral and bishops before St Mark's Basilica was built. Torcello was one of the first lagoon islands to be populated by those Veneti who fled the "terra ferma" to take shelter from the barbarian invasions, especially after Attila the Hun had destroyed the city of Altinum in 452. In 638, Torcello became the bishop’s official seat for more than a thousand years and the people of Altinum brought with them the relics of Saint Heliodorus, now the patron saint of the island. Torcello rapidly grew in importance as a political and trading center. In pre-Medieval times, Torcello was a much more powerful trading center than Venice. A serious issue for Torcello was that the swamp area of the lagoon around the island increased by the 14th century. Navigation in the laguna was impossible and traders ceased calling at the island. The growing swamps also seriously aggravated malaria. As a result, by the late 14th century, a substantial number of people left the island. In 1689, the bishopric transferred to Murano, and by 1797, the population had dropped to about 300. Today it is less than 20. Torcello's numerous palazzi, its twelve parishes, and its sixteen cloisters have almost disappeared since the Venetians recycled the useful building material. The island owes its importance in art history to the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. The basilica seen today was consecrated in 1008 and was probably completed by the middle of the 11th century. It has much 11th and 12th-century Byzantine work, including large mosaics. Judgement Day The excerpt shows groups of clergy (including Orthodox) and nuns waiting to enter paradise.

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. I have already uploaded dozens of shots from previous visits, so I´ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. Torcello island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon. It has been referred to as the parent island from which Venice was populated. It was a town with a cathedral and bishops before St Mark's Basilica was built. Torcello was one of the first lagoon islands to be populated by those Veneti who fled the "terra ferma" to take shelter from the barbarian invasions, especially after Attila the Hun had destroyed the city of Altinum in 452. In 638, Torcello became the bishop’s official seat for more than a thousand years and the people of Altinum brought with them the relics of Saint Heliodorus, now the patron saint of the island. Torcello rapidly grew in importance as a political and trading center. In pre-Medieval times, Torcello was a much more powerful trading center than Venice. A serious issue for Torcello was that the swamp area of the lagoon around the island increased by the 14th century. Navigation in the laguna was impossible and traders ceased calling at the island. The growing swamps also seriously aggravated malaria. As a result, by the late 14th century, a substantial number of people left the island. In 1689, the bishopric transferred to Murano, and by 1797, the population had dropped to about 300. Today it is less than 20. Torcello's numerous palazzi, its twelve parishes, and its sixteen cloisters have almost disappeared since the Venetians recycled the useful building material. The island owes its importance in art history to the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. The basilica seen today was consecrated in 1008 and was probably completed by the middle of the 11th century. It has much 11th and 12th-century Byzantine work, including large mosaics. Judgement Day

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. I have already uploaded dozens of shots from previous visits, so I´ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. Torcello island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon. It has been referred to as the parent island from which Venice was populated. It was a town with a cathedral and bishops before St Mark's Basilica was built. Torcello was one of the first lagoon islands to be populated by those Veneti who fled the "terra ferma" to take shelter from the barbarian invasions, especially after Attila the Hun had destroyed the city of Altinum in 452. In 638, Torcello became the bishop’s official seat for more than a thousand years and the people of Altinum brought with them the relics of Saint Heliodorus, now the patron saint of the island. Torcello rapidly grew in importance as a political and trading center. In pre-Medieval times, Torcello was a much more powerful trading center than Venice. A serious issue for Torcello was that the swamp area of the lagoon around the island increased by the 14th century. Navigation in the laguna was impossible and traders ceased calling at the island. The growing swamps also seriously aggravated malaria. As a result, by the late 14th century, a substantial number of people left the island. In 1689, the bishopric transferred to Murano, and by 1797, the population had dropped to about 300. Today it is less than 20. Torcello's numerous palazzi, its twelve parishes, and its sixteen cloisters have almost disappeared since the Venetians recycled the useful building material. The island owes its importance in art history to the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. The basilica seen today was consecrated in 1008 and was probably completed by the middle of the 11th century. It has much 11th and 12th-century Byzantine work, including large mosaics. This large mosaic was still under renovation in 2021. When the Episcopal Church was moved from here to Murano, a very similar mosaic was created in the Basilica of Murano.

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. I have already uploaded dozens of shots from previous visits, so I´ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. Torcello island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon. It has been referred to as the parent island from which Venice was populated. It was a town with a cathedral and bishops before St Mark's Basilica was built. Torcello was one of the first lagoon islands to be populated by those Veneti who fled the "terra ferma" to take shelter from the barbarian invasions, especially after Attila the Hun had destroyed the city of Altinum in 452. In 638, Torcello became the bishop’s official seat for more than a thousand years and the people of Altinum brought with them the relics of Saint Heliodorus, now the patron saint of the island. Torcello rapidly grew in importance as a political and trading center. In pre-Medieval times, Torcello was a much more powerful trading center than Venice. A serious issue for Torcello was that the swamp area of the lagoon around the island increased by the 14th century. Navigation in the laguna was impossible and traders ceased calling at the island. The growing swamps also seriously aggravated malaria. As a result, by the late 14th century, a substantial number of people left the island. In 1689, the bishopric transferred to Murano, and by 1797, the population had dropped to about 300. Today it is less than 20. Torcello's numerous palazzi, its twelve parishes, and its sixteen cloisters have almost disappeared since the Venetians recycled the useful building material. The island owes its importance in art history to the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. The basilica seen today was consecrated in 1008 and was probably completed by the middle of the 11th century. It has much 11th and 12th-century Byzantine work, including large mosaics.

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. I have already uploaded dozens of shots from previous visits, so I´ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. Torcello island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon. It has been referred to as the parent island from which Venice was populated. It was a town with a cathedral and bishops before St Mark's Basilica was built. Torcello was one of the first lagoon islands to be populated by those Veneti who fled the "terra ferma" to take shelter from the barbarian invasions, especially after Attila the Hun had destroyed the city of Altinum in 452. In 638, Torcello became the bishop’s official seat for more than a thousand years and the people of Altinum brought with them the relics of Saint Heliodorus, now the patron saint of the island. Torcello rapidly grew in importance as a political and trading center. In pre-Medieval times, Torcello was a much more powerful trading center than Venice. A serious issue for Torcello was that the swamp area of the lagoon around the island increased by the 14th century. Navigation in the laguna was impossible and traders ceased calling at the island. The growing swamps also seriously aggravated malaria. As a result, by the late 14th century, a substantial number of people left the island. In 1689, the bishopric transferred to Murano, and by 1797, the population had dropped to about 300. Today it is less than 20. Torcello's numerous palazzi, its twelve parishes, and its sixteen cloisters have almost disappeared since the Venetians recycled the useful building material. The island owes its importance in art history to the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. The basilica seen today was consecrated in 1008 and was probably completed by the middle of the 11th century. It has much 11th and 12th-century Byzantine work, including large mosaics.

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. I have already uploaded dozens of shots from previous visits, so I´ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. Torcello island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon. It has been referred to as the parent island from which Venice was populated. It was a town with a cathedral and bishops before St Mark's Basilica was built. Torcello was one of the first lagoon islands to be populated by those Veneti who fled the "terra ferma" to take shelter from the barbarian invasions, especially after Attila the Hun had destroyed the city of Altinum in 452. In 638, Torcello became the bishop’s official seat for more than a thousand years and the people of Altinum brought with them the relics of Saint Heliodorus, now the patron saint of the island. Torcello rapidly grew in importance as a political and trading center. In pre-Medieval times, Torcello was a much more powerful trading center than Venice. A serious issue for Torcello was that the swamp area of the lagoon around the island increased by the 14th century. Navigation in the laguna was impossible and traders ceased calling at the island. The growing swamps also seriously aggravated malaria. As a result, by the late 14th century, a substantial number of people left the island. In 1689, the bishopric transferred to Murano, and by 1797, the population had dropped to about 300. Today it is less than 20. Torcello's numerous palazzi, its twelve parishes, and its sixteen cloisters have almost disappeared since the Venetians recycled the useful building material. The island owes its importance in art history to the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. The basilica seen today was consecrated in 1008 and was probably completed by the middle of the 11th century. It has much 11th and 12th-century Byzantine work, including mosaics. The ruins of the round baptistery in front of the church

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. I have already uploaded dozens of shots from previous visits, so I´ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. Torcello island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon. It has been referred to as the parent island from which Venice was populated. It was a town with a cathedral and bishops before St Mark's Basilica was built. Torcello was one of the first lagoon islands to be populated by those Veneti who fled the "terra ferma" to take shelter from the barbarian invasions, especially after Attila the Hun had destroyed the city of Altinum in 452. In 638, Torcello became the bishop’s official seat for more than a thousand years and the people of Altinum brought with them the relics of Saint Heliodorus, now the patron saint of the island. Torcello rapidly grew in importance as a political and trading center. In pre-Medieval times, Torcello was a much more powerful trading center than Venice. A serious issue for Torcello was that the swamp area of the lagoon around the island increased by the 14th century. Navigation in the laguna was impossible and traders ceased calling at the island. The growing swamps also seriously aggravated malaria. As a result, by the late 14th century, a substantial number of people left the island. In 1689, the bishopric transferred to Murano, and by 1797, the population had dropped to about 300. Today it is less than 20. Torcello's numerous palazzi, its twelve parishes, and its sixteen cloisters have almost disappeared since the Venetians recycled the useful building material. The island owes its importance in art history to the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. The basilica seen today was consecrated in 1008 and was probably completed by the middle of the 11th century. It has much 11th and 12th-century Byzantine work, including mosaics.