Basilica of st. Cosma & Damian, Alberobello

The Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Alberobello was built in 1885. It contains the relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian, patrons of Alberobello. They are very revered by the Catholic Church, so the Church in Alberobello was given the title of Minor Basilica.

The church of Santi Medici Cosma e Damiono is the most important Christian in the city of Alberobello. It was initially a small church in the 19th century and was transformed into a large basilica with a neoclassic facade. This basilica is dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damian. During the 26th and the 27th of September a celebration of the Saint's city holiday is held and there is a crowd of pilgrims from the nearby towns, and as tradition claims, they travel the entire route by foot.

Over the course of 300 years, the country church has been demolished, rebuilt and enlarged several times, until it became, thanks to the inventiveness of the architect Antonio Curri, a sumptuous basilica. The facade was completed in 1885.

The basilica is a landmark located on the northern side of the historic center and on Corso Vittorio Emanuele and can be seen from various point throughout the town.

Neo-Renaissance interior and mostly local people come here to pray so it is very quiet.

The main nave

The main nave with the a sculpture of the crucifixion of the Christ is hang above and below two statues of Saints Cosmas and Damian.

Closer view

Two wooden statues (1782 and 1784) of Saints Cosmas and Damian. and the reliquary containing some bones fragments of the Saints.

The twins Cosmas and Damian were born in the Arabian Peninsula in the 3rd century AD, and lived in Asia Minor (the territory of Turkey). They were called saints without money, because they treated all people, poor and rich, and never took money for it. The brothers preached the Christian faith and were executed during the persecution under the Emperor Diocletian. Saints Cosmas and Damian are venerated by both Catholics and Orthodox.