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Ripatransone Cathedral
In the heart of the historic centre of Ripatransone, one of the most scenic towns in the Piceno area, stands the Cathedral, the Co-Cathedral of Saints Gregory the Great and Margaret. The building is the town's main place of worship and one of its historical and architectural landmarks. For centuries, Ripatransone was a bishopric, and the cathedral became the heart of the community's religious and civic life. Even today, it retains the status of co-cathedral within the Diocese of San Benedetto del Tronto-Ripatransone-Montalto.
The founding of the diocese
In 1571, Pope Pius V established the Diocese of Ripatransone, recognising the town's importance in the Piceno area. At that time, the diocese's first cathedral was the Church of San Benigno, located in the centre of the town. In the years that followed, work began on the construction of the present cathedral, with the aim of providing the new diocese with a larger and more imposing seat.
Origins and transformations
Construction of the cathedral began at the end of the 16th century, on the site of a previous church dedicated to St Gregory the Great. The building was completed during the 17th century, and over the following centuries it underwent several extensions and restorations that helped to shape the monumental appearance we see today. Next to the church stands the bell tower, built between the late 19th and early 20th centuries and topped by a large, gilded copper statue of Christ the Redeemer, which dominates the city skyline.
The interior of the church
The interior of the co-cathedral is arranged in three naves with side chapels and is dominated by a large central dome. Among the altars, paintings and sculptures, there are works by artists from the Marche region from the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as a 17th-century wooden choir. Also housed inside the church is a precious 18th-century historic organ, made by the Venetian organ builder Gaetano Callido. In addition to the main church, the cathedral complex also includes the Sanctuary of Our Lady of San Giovanni, a place of worship that is very dear to the local community.
A symbol of the 'Belvedere del Piceno'
Located within the town's medieval urban fabric, the co-cathedral is one of the main attractions for visitors to Ripatransone. It is often referred to as the 'Belvedere del Piceno' due to the sweeping views that open out from its squares and city walls over the hills and the Adriatic Sea. The cathedral stands as a reminder of the period when the town was one of the most important religious centres in the area.
piazza Ascanio Condivi, Via Angela Zingaro, 2, 63065 Ripatransone AP, Italy
