Termoli, Between Sea and Medieval Walls of the Old Town

The village, perched on a daring rocky promontory, has a curious elliptical shape and inside unfolds a dense network of streets, alleys, and small squares. The medieval walls were erected by Frederick II of Swabia around the castle, which was actually just a simple fortified structure with lookout and defense functions. From the Belvedere of Piazza Sant’Antonio, the view over the entire village is, to say the least, fantastic. Walking along Via Duomo, you reach one of Termoli’s iconic monuments: the Romanesque Cathedral of San Basso, whose light stone shines wonderfully under the sun’s rays. It was built in the 12th century by Alfano da Termoli and despite repeated devastations due to Saracen raids, it has managed to preserve its original charm and elegance. The facade is adorned with arches, pilasters, and a decorated portal; inside you can still see traces of an early Roman temple on which the church was built and fragments of the original Byzantine-style mosaic floor, depicting real and fantastic animals. Subjects very common in the medieval iconographies of sacred buildings in Southern Italy.