A small shore town between Trani and Bari features not even one, but two cathedrals. On of them is over eight centuries old Duomo Vecchio dedicated to Saint Conrad.
During the Crusades the towns along Apulian shore were prospering as an important junction between Western and Oriental civilizations.
The ports were receiving ships heading toward Holy Land and the towns build hospitals and other facilities able to accommodate large numbers of pilgrims.
At that time in Molfetto Teutonic Order run the hospital adjacent to the church of Martiri (Martyrs) and in the neighbourhood there were mansions of Templars and Jerusalemites.
One of these knights was San Corrado ( Conrad ) son of Henry III of Bavaria and Vulfida of Saxony, who spent his youth fighting in Palestine and as a mature man returned to Italy, where in the neighbourhood of Bari he lived in an ermitage. Some time he also spent caring for wounded in hospital of Martiri in Molfetta. The messages of his miraculous deeds were spreading fast, and soon after his death, the relics of the saint were transferred to Molfetta to chiesa dei Martiri as a temporary place before the construction of the new church dedicated to the saint.
The exact date of the building is unknown, but the documents mention the advanced progress at the end of 12th century. In the following century the relics were moved again this time for a permanent stay in the new Cathedral of San Corrado. It was located at the end of the port near the shore, so the vessels with merchants and pilgrims could use it as a reffering point on their way to the Holy Land. The time spared the building from moving wars, uncertain events and earthquakes roaming in the neighbourhood, besides an accidental lightning in 16th century that damaged both belfries. Jet the time brought progress to the town, that grew around and slowly moved away from its historical centre. The church lost its importance and in 1785 its title was transferred to the new, spectacular Jesuit church, the Cathedral of Assumption.
The old cathedral features Romanesque walls and many of bass-reliefs from 13th century. The most spectacular is the stone plate with Christ the Redeemer in front of the main altar. Probably even older is the curious stoup carried by the sculpture of a Saracen and fish floating in the basin for Holy Water.
In the main altar there is 16th century painting of Dormitio Virginis by the Neapolitan artist. Above the altar we can se the moment of Assumption on the painting commissioned in 1747 by Corrado Giaquinto.
15th century chapel of Santa Maria ad Nives preserves a cyborium donated in 1429 by Giovanni Trapasso.
The chapel of San Giuliano once displayed five wooden panels with Christ’s Passion from 16th century, at present they are in renovation.
Duomo Vecchio di San Corrado
Via della Chiesa Vecchia – 70056
Molfetta, Bari
Phone: (+39)0803971971
Opened:
daily
10.00-12.30 and 17.30-19.30
[photo courtesy of Michel Guilly]
