In the heart of Ostuni’s historic center, among white alleys and breathtaking views, stands the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, an authentic spiritual and architectural symbol of the White City. Its construction began in 1435, during the episcopate of Bishop Nicola Arpone, and was completed in the first decades of the 16th century. Declared a national monument in 1902, the Co-cathedral represents one of the most important examples of Romanesque-Gothic architecture in Apulia, with unique decorative influences and understated but imposing elegance.
A flowery Gothic-Romanesque masterpiece
The west-facing facade is a true work of art: articulated in three sections marked by thin pilasters, it is distinguished by its curvilinear pediment, inspired by the church of Santa Maria Jemale in Milan. This particular stylistic choice may have been influenced by the presence in Ostuni of Isabella of Aragon, duchess of Bari, who lived for a time in the bishop’s palace.
In the center dominates the large twenty-four-ray rose window, framed by three decorative orders with plant and geometric motifs, and enriched by the central figure of Christ Salvator Mundi, surrounded by seven cherubs, in an allegorical reference to biblical symbolism. On either side, two other smaller rose windows complete the visual balance of the facade.
Portals and symbolism
Access is through three portals, of which the central portal is the most richly decorated: in the lunette stands out a bas-relief depicting the Madonna and Child among musician angels, with at her feet the kneeling figure of Bishop Arpone, who commissioned the work. The side portals, on the other hand, feature reliefs of St. John the Baptist and St. Blaise, the city’s patron saint.
The interior: faith and transformation
The floor plan of the cathedral is in the shape of a Latin cross, with three naves separated by original columns with simple, essential-carved capitals, evidence of a spirit that is still medieval. Over the centuries, the interior has undergone several remodels: the columns have been incorporated into the pillars, and the ceiling has been enriched with canvases by local artists and Baroque stucco work by Antonio Lozzuppone in the 18th century.
Notable works of art include: the marble baptismal font by a Neapolitan workshop, the chapel of the Immaculate Conception with the statue of St. Agnes sculpted by Raffaele Caretta, the altars of the Sacred Heart and St. Gaetano da Thiene, and the painting of the Assumption on the high altar.
Also surviving are valuable frescoes, including The Finding of the Cross, St. Catherine of Alexandria and Our Lady of Health.
The Cathedral of Ostuni is not only a monument, but a true living testimony to the city’s history and identity: a place that speaks of faith, art, culture and memory, immersed in the evocative atmosphere of the Murge plateau.
