| Via Cattedrale leads to the charming Baroque setting in which the Cathedral dedicated to Madonna della Madia, the Saint protector of Monopoli stands out. The icon of Madonna della Madia landed to the seaport miraculously at the sunrise of December the 16th in 117. The poignant event of landing is commemorated every year in the same day with a huge community involvement. The Feast Day is commemorated with solemn celebrations on August the 15th with illuminations and fireworks. The original building built up in 1107 above a previous Romanesque church was completed ten years later with wooden timbers - still preserved- of the raft that carried on the precious icon of the town. During the XVIIIth century, the Cathedral was completely rebuilt, characterized by its monumental façade and its outstanding bell tower. So, today, it is one of the most beautiful churches in Apulia region. After many renovation works, on the inside, it has an outstanding brightness, decorated with rich polychrome marbles and with many fine paintings by Giovanni Bernardo Lama and Stefano Buono (XVIst century), Palma il Giovane (XVII cent), Francesco de Mura (XVIII cent) and the sculptures by Giuseppe Sammartino. |