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Visit Monte Sant'Angelo
Monte Sant'Angelo is a town in the Gargano, in Puglia, south-east Italy, known throughout the Christian world for the shrine dedicated to the Archangel Michael.
Basilica of Saint Michael
The square in front of the Basilica was once called the 'Hall of the Column', because of the the presence of a column on top of which there was a statue of St. Michael, but this was removed in the 19th century. The atrium of the Basilica of Saint Michael is surrounded by a colonnade, and on the right there is an imposing octagonal tower built by Frederick II of Swabia (1194-1250) as a watchtower, later transformed into a bell tower by Charles I of Anjou (13th century). The atrium leads to more stairs leading up to the Romanesque portal called 'Porta del Toro', dating back to the 7th century. The bronze doors of the Cave were donated by Pantaleone III (‘Pantaleone de Comite Maurone’, 11th century), an Imperial noble of Amalfi, who brought it from Constantinople in the 11th century. The doors are divided into panels depicting episodes relating to St. Michael from the Old and New Testament. The nave is in Gothic style.
Next we reach the Chapter Choir and the Chapel of the Relics, including the venerated Cross of Frederick II of Swabia - 13th century, in silver filigree, which keeps a relic of the Cross. The altar dating back to the twelfth century is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi (1182 approx.- 1226), who visited the Basilica in 1216. On the right side of the aisle there is the sacred cave, with the statue of the Archangel by Jacopo Sansovino [1486-1570], dating from the first decade of the sixteenth century.
Castle of Monte Sant'Angelo
Not far from the Basilica there is the Castle of Monte Sant'Angelo. The oldest part is particularly powerful, the so-called Tower of the Giants, 18 meters high with a pentagonal shape. The first evidence of the fortress dates back to Orso I, Bishop of Benevento, in the late tenth century. With the advent of the Normans, the castle became the residence of the Princes. The fortress had a great strategic military importance under Frederick II of Swabia. After the death of the Emperor, it passed to his son Manfredi (1232-1266), and then to King Conrad [Conradin] of Swabia (1252-1268). The Angevin made it a prison. It then passed to the Princes of Durres and then to the Aragonese. Ferdinand of Anjou (1424-1494) built the circular towers on the south side in 1491 and then in 1493 also restored the tower-shaped hull of the ship, the design of which is attributed to the architect and military engineer Francesco di Giorgio Martini (1439-1501).
Towards the middle of the16th century the fortress belonged to the Grimaldi, who held it until the end of the 18th century when Ferdinand IV of Bourbon (1751-1825) gave it to Cardinal Fabrizio Ruffo (1744-1827).
Other Monte Sant'angelo highlights
A few meters from the Basilica you can see the façade of the Church of St Peter, dominated by a pierced canopy depicting four intertwined sirens. Inside see the Baptistery of San Giovanni, known as the “Tomb of Rotari” (606-652) and surmounted by a large dome-shaped monument. Its name 'in tumba' ("tumba" = "grave") is a mistake, because this is only a monument which the successors of Rotari built in his honor. For this reason, we should really say the "dome" ("Tholus”) of Rotari and not the “Grave of Rotari”...the building is divided into three lines; the first floor is octagonal, and the second elliptical, with a high tambour topped by the dome. Of great artistic value are the bas-reliefs above the entrance depicting "The capture of Jesus," "The Deposition", the "Marys at the tomb" and the "Ascension."
To the right of the so-called "Tomb of Rotari" there is the hall that leads into the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The church is attributed to Leo (11th century), the Archbishop of Siponto. During the regency of Constance of Hauteville (1154-1198) the church was reconstructed in the Swabian-Roman shape. The façade has blind arches on slender pilasters surmounted by carved cornice brackets. The portal canopy rests on two eagles and it is adorned with carved lintels and cornices. The lunette of the portal represents the "Madonna and Child" while the interior has three naves and some frescoes of the Byzantine school.
We can conclude our tour of the holy places of the Gargano with the Church of Santa Maria di Pulsano, built in the late 6th century on the ruins of a pagan temple. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1646 and later governed for several years by the “Celestini” Monks of Manfredonia.
In part even the local cuisine refers symbolically to the cult of St. Michael; for example with the famous "bread of the Mount”, of considerable size and weight (seven pounds); and the oil and cheese on which stands the "Caciocavallo. Among the desserts try the Poperati, with honey, cocoa and cinnamon, and calzoncelli, made with chestnut flour, honey and cocoa.
See also history of Monte Sant'Angelo
See the the Puglia travel guide for more places to visit in the same region as Monte Sant'Angelo.