![Conversano 217.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/DEwD5tV0-Conversano202-17.jpg)^{***The Basilica Cathedral of Conversano***} --- The Cathedral of Conversano, dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption and Saint Flaviano, like many other local Church in Apulia follows the same Romanesque style. It dates from the eleventh century but it was renovated in in the mid-fourteenth century retaining the original style. Perfectly integrated into the historical centre of Conversano, it seems to reflect the town's ancient vocation for art. In fact, I could affirm - without fear of contradiction - it is a fantastic place to spend extra time for a photography enthusiast and this is thanks to a lot of detail to be photographed. And the number of pictures attached to this post is a proof of that! --- The main portal is called "door magna" and has a pair of stone lions guarding the gate. But it is looking up that you will see what I was talking about before. In fact, it is richly decorated following the Byzantine Lombardo style; the archway consists, in its turn, of three semicircles adorned with zoomorphic figures, vegetables and the Twelve Apostles with a central bust of Christ. There are two smaller side doors: the left one is that of St. George and the right one is that of St. Peter. In addition to the three portal on the main facade, there are two minor portals per each side of the Cathedral. The central rose window is quite impressive with its four metres in diameter; it has undergone major renovations along the centuries but preserves its medieval origins. The exterior sides of the Cathedral are decorated with many precious statues and bas-reliefs, especially on the lunettes of the portals: the Madonna with Child, Saints Cosmas and Damian, an angel placed on a pedestal, the Cry on the Cross are represented on the lunettes of the four minor portals on the side of the Cathedral. The fact that Pope John Paul II raised the status of the Cathedral to Basilica Minor in 1997 also bears testimony to the importance of this Church. Well I'll leave you to the pictures of this beautiful Cathedral and I suggest you do not miss the next part where I will talk about of its interior. ---- ![Conversano 226.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/RtZj5BpR-Conversano202-26.jpg)^{***Detail of a statue of the Cathedral***} --- ![Conversano 227.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/ugrmKLX7-Conversano202-27.jpg)^{***The main portal also called "door magna"***} --- ![Conversano 228.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/di4Bc7cb-Conversano202-28.jpg)^{***Rose window on the main facade***} --- ![Conversano 229.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/iwSSs306-Conversano202-29.jpg)^{***Rose window on the main facade***} --- ![Conversano 230.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/ilaMy7aT-Conversano202-30.jpg)^{***The Cathedral's principal façade***} --- ![Conversano 231.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/sXpI6J6r-Conversano202-31.jpg)^{***Inscription on the façade***} --- ![Conversano 232.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/J7nCDA7X-Conversano202-32.jpg)^{***Stone lions guarding the gate***} --- ![Conversano 233.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/Accp6x1h-Conversano202-33.jpg)^{***Detail of a decorated capital***} --- ![Conversano 234.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/WCNyw03E-Conversano202-34.jpg)^{***Capital decorated with allegorical figures***} --- ![Conversano 235.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/XpJvPYFy-Conversano202-35.jpg)^{***Lunette of the main portal***} --- ![Conversano 236.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/aM4ARwDI-Conversano202-36.jpg)^{***Particular view of the main facade***} --- ![Conversano 2.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/5lkVB6x3-Conversano202.jpg)^{***Posterior lateral view of the Basilica Catehdral***} --- ![Conversano 22.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/Ah6IECay-Conversano202-2.jpg)^{***One of the bell towers***} --- ![Conversano 23.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/ORyNqOmR-Conversano202-3.jpg)^{***Minor portals on the left side of the Church***} --- ![Conversano 24.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/7H42R3t4-Conversano202-4.jpg)^{***Datail of the lunette of the minor portal***} --- ![Conversano 25.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/Kvy90edY-Conversano202-5.jpg)^{***Datail of the lunette of the minor portal***} --- ![Conversano 27.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/gq8Si9BC-Conversano202-7.jpg)^{***Detail of a decorated capital***} --- ![Conversano 26.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/rxPrxaIS-Conversano202-6.jpg)^{***Bas-reliefs of the minor portal***} --- ![Conversano 28.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/8TsCfKex-Conversano202-8.jpg)^{***Datail of the lunette of the minor portal***} --- ![Conversano 29.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/Jpf7ocjY-Conversano202-9.jpg)^{***Minor portals on the left side of the Church***} --- ![Conversano 210.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/QBlySvC8-Conversano202-10.jpg)^{***Datail of the lunette of the minor portal***} --- ![Conversano 211.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/ddPSOnh1-Conversano202-11.jpg)^{***Datail of the lunette of the minor portal***} --- ![Conversano 212.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/PfIJEleF-Conversano202-12.jpg)^{***Bas-reliefs of the minor portal***} --- ![Conversano 213.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/qKXOUe7V-Conversano202-13.jpg)^{***Datail of the lunette of the minor portal***} --- ![Conversano 214.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/rDbd0JRn-Conversano202-14.jpg)^{***Decorations on the cornice of the lateral façade***} --- ![Conversano 216.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/uWfaOpRU-Conversano202-16.jpg)^{***Main facade of the Basilica Cathedral of Conversano***} --- ![Conversano 218.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/N3xJWF1z-Conversano202-18.jpg)^{***The main portal also called "door magna"***} --- ![Conversano 220.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/scwdj1rr-Conversano202-20.jpg)^{***Stone lions guarding the gate***} --- ![Conversano 219.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/4lXl7DUK-Conversano202-19.jpg)^{***Lunette of the main portal***} --- ![Conversano 215.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/YWr3mXoT-Conversano202-15.jpg)^{***Lateral view of the Basilica Catehdral***} --- ![Conversano 221.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/1kzheKxS-Conversano202-21.jpg)^{***Stone-made statue***} --- ![Conversano 222.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/6E50FkrV-Conversano202-22.jpg)^{***Datail of the lunette of the main portal***} --- ![Conversano 224.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/0ycfocBd-Conversano202-24.jpg)^{***Datail of the lunette of the main portal***} --- ![Conversano 225.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/pBEzlewS-Conversano202-25.jpg)^{***Main facade of the Basilica Cathedral of Conversano***} --- ![Conversano 223.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/miti.blog/JF0FxZp0-Conversano202-23.jpg)^{***Datail of the stone-made statue of the main portal***} --- --- *All photos taken by me. Some photos contain some Lightroom post processing. All rights reserved.* ---- --- View this post [on TravelFeed](https://travelfeed.io/@miti.blog/conversano-italy-discover-ancient-norba-part-two) for the best experience. [//]:# (!steemitworldmap 40.968438 lat 17.114549 long d3scr)