Description, courtesy of Wikipedia:
In 1861, part of the facade collapsed, damaging the atrium. The whole front of the church was then rebuilt to a design by architect Errico Alvino in a richly decorated manner drawing on Italian Gothic and especially Arab-Norman styles, similar to but more ornate than the original.
Click here for an informative article about Amalfi Cathedral, with excellent photos of its exterior and interior. (one photo offers an undistorted view of the bell-tower, from behind, looking to the sea)
Whenever a mass (or some other rite) is in progress, Amalfi’s cathedral is “open” – anyone who behaves respectfully is welcome to walk right in, gratis.
My beloved and I proceeded to do so.
Thus, accidentally, we became uninvited but welcomed guests – well, witnesses – at a quintessentially Italian wedding!
That happy occasion is documented in the next several posts.