Originally founded in 1388 by Pietro Cossa to honor his father Giovanni, governor of Ischia and Procida, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta stands in Ischia Ponte. The present Baroque structure was built between 1751 and 1752 by Augustinian friars and became the diocesan cathedral in 1809, replacing the ancient cathedral inside the Aragonese Castle after it was destroyed by British artillery during conflicts with the French.
What to see
The two-tiered Baroque facade leads into a three-aisled interior that houses significant artworks rescued from the castle church. In the left aisle, the baptismal font where Saint John Joseph of the Cross was baptized on August 15, 1654, features an oval basin held by three 14th-century caryatids depicting Gentleness, Justice, and Prudence. The interior contains multiple canvases by Giacinto Diano, including depictions of Saint Augustine, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, the Annunciation, and the altarpiece of the Assumption above the main altar constructed between 1746 and 1764. The transept holds a 13th-century Catalan crucifix and a 14th-century panel of the Madonna della Libera, before which Vittoria Colonna and Francesco Fernando d'Avalos traditionally prayed.
Visiting
Beside the cathedral stands a square bell tower built in 1596 as a defensive watchtower and refuge during Saracen raids, later adapted to its modern role in 1613. Inside, a stucco high-relief above the central nave's triumphal arch portrays the wife of founder Pietro Cossa, while an organ loft supported by two columns dominates the rear wall.
Our editors' tip
Look closely at the 14th-century panel of the Madonna della Libera in the right transept, an artwork relocated from the former cathedral atop the Aragonese Castle rock.