Cattolica di Stilo
{{Short description|Byzantine church in Calabria, Italy}}
File:La cattolica di stilo, esterno 06.jpg
The Cattolica di Stilo is a Byzantine church in the comune of Stilo (Province of Reggio), Calabria, southern Italy. It is a national monument, and part of the "Evidence of Italo-Greek Culture between the Early and Late Middle Ages" World Heritage Site.
History
The Cattolica was built in the 9th century, when Calabria was part of the Byzantine Empire. The name derives from the Greek word katholiki, which referred to the churches provided with a baptistery. It is one of the most important examples of Byzantine architecture, together with the church of San Marco in Rossano Calabro.
Architecture
File:Cattolica di Stilo (internal view) - Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy - 24 Aug. 2003.jpg
The Cattolica is mainly built of brick. It follows a plan with "inscribed cross", typical of the middle Byzantine age. The interior is divided by four columns into five similar spaces. The square central space and the angled ones are covered by domes. The angled ones have tambours with the same diameter, while the central dome is slightly taller and larger.
The western sides lies on free rocks, while the southern area, ending with three apses, stands on three stone bases. The construction is in bricks.
The interior was once entirely covered with frescoes. The left apse has a bell built in 1577, when the church was converted to the Latin rite. The interior has also several inscriptions in Arabic, which have led scholars to suspect it could have been also used as a Muslim oratory. One inscription translates to "There is only one true God".
Gallery
File:Affresco sul tetto - Cattolica di Stilo.JPG|Fresco on the roof
File:Affresco 1 cattolica di stilo.JPG|Fresco 1
File:Affresco 2 della Cattolica di Stilo.JPG|Fresco 2
File:Affresco 3 della Cattolica di Stilo.JPG|Fresco 3
File:Affresco 4 della Cattolica di Stilo.JPG|Fresco 4
File:Affresco 5 della Cattolica di Stilo.JPG|Fresco 5
File:Affresco cattolica pano 2014.jpg|Fresco 6
External links
- [http://www.calabriatours.org/heritage/chiese/cattolica-di-stilo.html Page at calabriatours.org] {{in lang|it}}
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{{Coord|38|28|48|N|16|28|04|E|source:kolossus-itwiki|display=title}}
Category:Byzantine church buildings in Italy
Category:Churches in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria
Category:9th-century churches in Italy
Category:Vallata dello Stilaro
Category:Buildings and structures in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria