The
church is located in the "Rione Monti" and it seems to close off
the scenery in the historical part of Alberobello. The church was
built in the space of 14 months and was opened to the public on 13th
June
1927.
Such a fast operation was achieved thanks to the
clergyman Antonio Lippolis (1886-1972) who entrusted the project to
an engineer called Signorile Bianchi and to master De Leonardis.
According to tradition the priest, outraged by the spreading of
Protestantism, decided to erect a new religious site as a symbol
against the heresies and this would explain such speediness.
The
church was dedicated to Jesus Christ King of the Universe and to the
saint from Padua (S. Antonio), who by that time was known as “the Hammer
of the Heretics”.
From
a stylistic point of view, the church is built using the same
technique as for the trullo, with a few modern tactics as well
as others which took inspiration from the Romanesque architecture. The façade is dominated by a rose and by three
spandrels along which runs a sequence of hanging archlets, very
similar to the decoration of the Romanesque churches of the Puglia
region.
The
central dome soars high up for 19.80 metres and the skylight
accentuates it even further by another 3.20 metres, around which
revolve four small domes crowned by pinnacles. On the right hand side
of the façade soars the trullo-inspired bell tower enveloped in its
cylindrical body placed just slightly lower than the central dome
(18.90 metres).
The
monumental entrance leads to a central layout very sombre chamber
where one is captured by the simplicity and refinery of the raw
stone. The only touch of colour is visible on the wall of the high
altar, completely covered by a fresco dating back to the 20th century
depicting Christ Pantocrator surrounded by saints.
Bibliography
AA.VV., (1997), Alberobello, la città dei trulli, Sambuceto (CH), New Cards, 1 ed.
Martellotta, A. (2003), Alberobello, itinerario storico ed artistico, Lecce, Capone Editore, 1 ed.
