Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, Teramo, Italy

History and Construction

The construction of the Cathedral of Teramo began in 1158 under the direction of Bishop Guido II. He sought to create a new sanctuary for the relics of Saint Berardo following the destruction of the ancient Cathedral of Santa Maria Aprutiensis and much of the city by Count Roberto III of Loritello in 1156, caused by a fire.

The cathedral was completed in 1174 and consecrated in 1176. Built in the Romanesque style, it featured three naves, a projecting façade, a trussed roof, and a central octagonal lantern. The presbytery was already elevated at the time of its construction, and there was likely an external narthex as well.

The stone material for the cathedral was sourced from the nearby Roman theatre and amphitheatre, with part of the north-western section of the amphitheatre being demolished to make space for the new building. Many of the worked stones from these structures are still visible in the cathedral’s walls today.

Late Medieval Transformations

Between 1331 and 1335, Bishop Niccolò degli Arcioni oversaw significant changes to the cathedral, expanding it to the north with a new section slightly offset from the original structure, which lost its three apses. The new Gothic section, characterized by slender pointed arches, was built on the same level as the original presbytery and featured another projecting façade with a false door (which was never opened) opposite the original entrance.

One of the most notable additions was the magnificent round-arched portal, completed in 1332 and signed by Deodato Romano: “MAGISTER DEODATUS DE URBE FECIT HOC OPUS MCCCXXXII.” The portal features a splay with three projections, interspersed with two twisted columns on each side, and is adorned with Cosmatesque-style mosaic bands. Two small columns resting on lions support the portal, with statues of an Announcing Angel and the Virgin, attributed to Nicola da Guardiagrele or one of his students, placed atop them. In the center of the architrave, Bishop Niccolò degli Arcioni’s coat of arms is flanked by those of Atri on the right and Teramo on the left. The original sixteenth-century wooden doors were destroyed and replaced by reproductions created in 1911 by Luigi Cavacchioli.

The current rectangular shape of the façade and the Ghibelline battlements likely date from after the Arconian transformations.

Secondary Facade on Piazza Martiri della Liberta

In the late fifteenth century, a large triangular Gothic tympanum was added to the portal, enclosing a round window in the center. Above this window is an aedicule containing a statue of the Redeemer, blessing. On either side of the gable are two additional aedicules, also spire-shaped, which enclose statues of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Berardo.

To the right of the façade stands the imposing bell tower.

The original Sacristy, located between the organ and bell tower, was abandoned in 1594 following the construction of the New Sacristy, which began in 1586.

Eighteenth-Century Interventions

In the 18th century, under Bishop Tommaso Alessio de’ Rossi (1731-1749), the cathedral underwent a major transformation to align with the Baroque style and meet the evolving needs of worship. The Romanesque columns and six original bays were replaced by two domes supported by pillars. The roofs of the side naves were raised, reducing them to two slopes, and stucco decoration was added to create a more cohesive look between the old structure and the newer Gothic additions. Smaller portals were added, and the large chapel of Saint Berardo was built, which remains the only visible example of this Baroque renovation.

Twentieth-Century Interventions

In the early 20th century, a renewed interest in the cathedral’s medieval origins led to extensive restoration work between 1932 and 1935, under the direction of Superintendent Riccoboni. This restoration aimed to return the cathedral to its Romanesque appearance, including the near-total reconstruction of the original Guidi section. Only a pair of ancient Roman columns, reported by Niccola Palma, and a Corinthian capital converted into a holy water stoup, remain from the original structure.

The historical layers of the cathedral were further removed with the demolition of surrounding buildings between 1935 and 1948, including shops, homes (one of which was the birthplace of poet Giannina Milli), and service areas for the canons.

On 29 September 1933, a few years after these renovations, Bishop Antonio Micozzi rededicated the cathedral to Santa Maria Assunta. Pope John Paul II reaffirmed this dedication with a decree on 30 September 1986, establishing the city of Teramo as the seat of the Diocese of Teramo-Atri, with the cathedral retaining its title as a Basilica.

The cathedral was declared a national monument by royal decree on 21 November 1940 (No. 1746), and Pope Pius XII elevated it to the status of a minor basilica on 30 May 1955.

The final phase of the cathedral’s isolation came in 1969, when Superintendent Mario Moretti dismantled the “Arch of Monsignor,” which had connected the cathedral to the bishop’s palace built in 1738 by Bishop De Rossi. A concrete base was also added to stabilize the bell tower. Additionally, the so-called “canonists’ well” located on the side of Piazza Martiri della Libertà was demolished, as it was deemed a modern addition, with only the four lions bearing columns from the temple preserved and relocated to the monumental staircase of the facade.

Recent Interventions

In recent years, sculptural works have been added to the cathedral’s façade. A sculptural piece by Teramo artist Venanzo Crocetti, depicting the Annunciation, was placed on the false door facing Piazza Martiri della Libertà. Above this, Crocetti also created a work of the Madonna and Child, housed in a semicircular niche.

The cathedral reopened for worship on 8 September 2007, following a three-year restoration. During this process, a crypt dedicated to Saint Berardo and a tunnel leading from the crypt to Piazza Martiri della Libertà were uncovered and opened to the public. Remains of earlier buildings were also discovered beneath the floor near the main entrance.