Saint Andrew’s Cathedral

History

Amalfi Cathedral was built at the time of the Marine Republic, at the end of the 10th century when the diocese of Amalfi was given city status at the wishes of Doge Mansone III. The new cathedral was built next to the old one and together the two form a single architectural complex. The old cathedral, today known as the Basilica of the Crucifix, was itself built on the ruins of a previous temple.

The Cathedral has undergone several changes. In the 13th century it was rebuilt in norman-arab style and then changed again in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was also completely renovated in the 18th century.

The Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Andrew who was martyred on the crucifix at Patras in the year 64 AD. His remains were kept in Patras until the 357 when the emperor Constantine decided he wanted them in Constantinople. In 1204 the fourth crusade was announced and Cardinal Pietro Capuano who travelled with Pope Innocent III as a legate, or ecclesiastical ambassador, had the idea of giving the relics of the Apostle Andrew to his city as a gift. At that time the relics were preserved in the Constantinian Basilica of the holy Apostles. Engaging the help of colonists from Amalfi and their priests who were familiar with the area, he managed to take possession of the relics and bring them back with him to Amalfi in 1206. The Cardinal kept his intentions absolutely secret and had a transept built in the cathedral entirely at his expense with a crypt directly below. On the 8 May 1208 work was completed and the Cardinal handed over the relics of Saint Andrew to the Amalfi church. 

Short bibliography

Colavolpe, A. (1998), Il Duomo di Sant’Andrea ad Amalfi, in Santuari della Campania, Florence.
(2004), Amalfi in La Campania paese per paese, pp.89-90.
Frenkel, W. (1938), Salerno e la Costiera amalfitana, Naples
Schiavo, A. (1941), Monumenti della costa di Amalfi, Milan, Rome.

Web Bibliography

www.ecostieramalfitana.it/diocesiamalfi/index.html