Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore di Siponto

About

Erected around 1117, this Medieval church is a relic from the ancient town of Sipontum, which was abandoned in the 13th century. The local take on Romanesque architecture with some Islamic influences, the basilica is actually two churches. Built on Roman foundations, the lower basilica, where visitors can still see four large columns, corresponding to the pillars of the dome, and 16 smaller columns, with Romanesque capitals. Within the upper basilica, the high altar consists of a magnificent early Christian sarcophagus, with a copy of the 7th Madonna with Child, which was found here, but moved to the Cathedral of Manfredonia. Next to the church, the remains of an early Christian basilica were excavated, which artist Edoardo Tresoldi recreated using wire mesh.