Termoli, tra mare e mura medievali del borgo antico

The village, perched on a bold rocky promontory, has an unusual elliptical shape and inside it unrolls a dense network of streets, alleys, and small squares. The medieval walls were raised by Frederick II of Swabia around the castle, which, in fact, was nothing more than a simple fortified structure with lookout and defense functions. From the Belvedere of Piazza Sant’Antonio, the panoramic view of the entire village is, to say the least, fantastic. Walking along Via Duomo, you reach one of Termoli’s symbol monuments: the Romanesque Cathedral of San Basso, whose light stone shines wonderfully under the rays of the sun. It was built in the 12th century by Alfano da Termoli and despite repeated devastations caused by Saracen raids, it has managed to preserve its original charm and elegance. The facade is adorned with arches, pilasters, and an ornate portal; inside you can still see traces of an ancient Roman temple on which the church was built and fragments of the original Byzantine-style mosaic floor, depicting real and fantastical animals. Subjects very common in the medieval iconographies of sacred buildings in southern Italy.