| Mottola is a town and comune in the province of Taranto, in the Puglia region of southeast Italy.
It is situated on a hill (387[2] metres AMSL) in the sub-region of Murgia. It is also called "The Ionian Spy" for its strategic geographical position. From various points of the town all Taranto's Gulf can be admired. The economy is based mostly on agriculture and food production (olives, wine, citrus fruits, vegetables). Tourism and manufacture of wooden fixtures are also developed
The cathedral was built after the destruction of the city of 1102 and then rebuilt in 1198. In 1202 a pulpit was added. In 1507 it was enlarged according to the inscription on the architrave of the main door.
The interior has three naves with six columns. In the right aisle is the font and three altars: the first dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, the second to the Virgin venerated by the Poles, who left in 1945, and the third to the Christ Child. Down the aisle is the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament with an altar dominated by a painting of the Last Supper. Apse is a painting of the Assumption. Along the left aisle seats are four other altars: to St. Thomas of Canterbury (patron saint), St. Joseph, the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Anthony. The architecture is of Romanesque style. There are also two lions holding up the two columns on either side of the main door, the rose window of the facade and the side facing north and the ancient square bell tower with four floors with double lancet windows on each side at the top. |