St. Andrew Patron's Cathedral |
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Amalfi's Cathedral features an impressive staircase with 57 steps; the front is built with polychrome majolica. It dates back to 10th century and it was built when The Maritime Amalfi Republic was established by Doge Mansone III. In the Cathedral are still preserved the saint's mortal remains, given to Peter Capuano to the Amalfi Church, when transept and crypt works ended.
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Flavio Gioia Square Majolica |
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This Majolica, in the main square, at Amalfi entrance, represents the Amalfi seafaring power and illustrates Amalfi's history, as in the reported sentence which is quoting a very famous verse by Gabriele D'Annunzio, one of the most important Italian poets. Another quotation is "Contra hostes fidei semper pugnavit Amalphis"; "Amalfi has always defeated the enemies of the Faith"; that is the motto of Amalphitans which refers to their loyal support of the Vatican during wartime.
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Saracen Tower |
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The main purpose of the Saracen Tower, once called "St. Francis Tower", was to protect the Maritime Republic of Amalfi from the outer Saracen attacks; its strategic position allowed to control a wide sea area. This structure had also the function to protect the Old Monastery that rises on its back, whose construction was advocated by St. Francis in 1222. Both the buildings (Tower and Monastery) still are now used by a local well-known hotel, where have sojourned famous and cinema stars too, such as Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Roberto Rossellini.
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