Location: Massa centro

The former Cathedral of Santa Maria delle Grazie, together with the adjacent bishop’s palace, is an emblem of the elegant eighteenth-century architecture that dominates the square of Massa Lubrense. Massa was a bishopric since the 11th century, but with the Concordat of 1818, the diocese was suppressed and incorporated into the Archdiocese of Sorrento.

The position and the various movements

The cathedral has not always occupied its present position. Originally, it was located in the early Christian church of Fontanella in Marina Lobra, but was moved within the city walls for security reasons, in the area of Casale dell’Annunziata.

However, after the destruction of Massa in 1465, the cathedral temporarily returned to Fontanella, before being transferred to a new site in the Casale di Schiazzano under bishop Giacomo Scannapeco. Only in 1512 was the first stone of the current cathedral laid, intended for the new administrative centre of Massa, Guarazzano.

Construction and restoration

After years of work, the cathedral was finally inaugurated in 1543, with a solemn ceremony presided by Bishop Pietro Marchesi. In the following centuries, numerous bishops contributed to the restorations and renovations, including Mons. Maurizio Centino, who installed the wooden organ and pulpit in 1628, and Mons. Giuseppe Bellotti, who in the 18th century made important structural transformations. Bellotti left an indelible mark on the building, as evidenced by its coat of arms in many areas of the cathedral.

Architectural and artistic details

The interior of the former Cathedral of Santa Maria delle Grazie is a perfect example of the artistic and architectural evolution of the place. Its floor of majolica, executed by Ignazio Chiajese in 1780 and later reproduced in 1970, is one of the distinctive elements. The high altar, built on three steps and decorated with polychrome marbles, is dominated by a cross in relief and the coat of arms of Bishop Bellotti. In the sacristy, besides the 17th century wooden furnishings, there are portraits of bishops and a reliquary bust of San Gennaro.

The works of art of the Ex Catterale Santa Maria delle Grazie

Among the works of art kept in the cathedral stand out the tablet of the Madonna delle Grazie by Marco Cardisco (1527) and the table of the Baptism of Christ by Girolamo Imparato (1590), which represent the high artistic level achieved by the Neapolitan school and its influence on the territory of Massa Lubrense.

In short, the former Cathedral of Santa Maria delle Grazie not only contains centuries of history, but is a fundamental reference point to understand the historical and cultural vicissitudes of Massa Lubrense, constituting a valuable heritage for the entire community.

website: www.anticacattedralemassalubrense.com