Necropoli Etrusca - Tarquinia Resorts

CENTRO STORICO OLD TOWN
Chiesa di S. Maria in Castello
Cattedrale fino al 1435; successivamente in abbandono, ebbe alterne vicende e fu più volte restaurata. Di
forme romaniche costruita (1121-1208) sulle presistenze della Cappella altomedievale di S. Maria ad rupes.
Denuncia influenze d’oltralpe, lombarde e arabe. Notevoli: le decorazioni dei Cosmati, la vasca battesimale
poligonale, il ciborio e l’ambone. La facciata a terminazione rettilinea con campanile a vela ha tre portali ad arco
a tutto sesto, una bifora e due monofore soprastanti cosmateschi. La parete esterna sinistra, decorata da
paraste con archetti pensili e peducci in nenfro, ha dieci monofore. In alto nella parete centrale un rosone di
tipo lombardo cui corrisponde nella parete opposta un oculo. Sul dirupo si impostano le tre absidi (poligonale
la centrale, quelle laterali circolari irregolari). La parete esterna destra è rafforzata da un contrafforte a scarpa.
Alcune epigrafi e iscrizioni coeve all’edificio ne documentano la storia (committenza, finanziamenti, clero,
maestranze e artisti), e la politica cittadina nei secc. XII - XIII.
The Church of Saint Mary in the Castle was a cathedral until 1435, having withstood many restorations until its
eventual abandonment. It was built between 1121-1208 in the Romanesque style and it appears to have
substituted Santa Maria ad rupes (on top of the cliff) which was a pre-existing palatine chapel. The church
includes distinct Lombardic and Arabic influences and is particularly noted for the cosmatesque decorations of
the polygonal baptismal font, the tabernacle and the ambo or church lecturn. The rectangular facade features
three arched portals, a belfry and three mullioned windows, the center one being double-slit while the side
windows are single-slit. The central portal is adorned with cosmateque mosaic work while the external left wall
features hanging arches supported by nenfro pilasters and corbels as well as ten mullioned windows. High upon
the central wall lies a Lombardic rose window which corresponds to the oculus or small oval shaped window
on the opposing wall. The three apses rest solidly upon the cliff (the central apse is polygonal while the side ones
are irregularly circular) and the cathedral walls are supported by diagonal buttresses. Several epigraphs and
inscriptions on the church wall document its history relating facts of financing, clergy, contributing craftsmen and
artists as well as city politics between the 12th and 13th century.
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