Photo: Sailko, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Museum, 9th century
Cattolica di Stilo
Church in Stilo, Italy
At a glance
- Type
- Museum
- Period
- Middle Ages, 9th century
- Style
- Byzantine architecture
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 38°28′49″ N, 16°28′06″ E
- Address
- via Cattolica, s.n.c. - Stilo
History and description
The Cattolica di Stilo is a Byzantine church in the comune of Stilo (Province of Reggio), Calabria, southern Italy. It is a national monument, and part of the "Evidence of Italo-Greek Culture between the Early and Late Middle Ages" proposed World Heritage Site.
History
The Cattolica was built in the 9th century, when Calabria was part of the Byzantine Empire. The name derives from the Greek word katholiki, which referred to the churches provided with a baptistery. It is one of the most important examples of Byzantine architecture, together with the church of San Marco in Rossano Calabro.
Architecture
The Cattolica is mainly built of brick. It follows a plan with "inscribed cross", typical of the middle Byzantine age. The interior is divided by four columns into five similar spaces. The square central space and the angled ones are covered by domes. The angled ones have tambours with the same diameter, while the central dome is slightly taller and larger.
The western sides lies on free rocks, while the southern area, ending with three apses, stands on three stone bases. The construction is in bricks.
The interior was once entirely covered with frescoes. The left apse has a bell built in 1577, when the church was converted to the Latin rite. The interior has also several inscriptions in Arabic, which have led scholars to suspect it could have been also used as a Muslim oratory. One inscription translates to "There is only one true God".
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Cattolica di Stilo».
Timeline
- 9th centuryFounded
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
GuardavalleTrain, nearest
9.6 km as the crow flies
Cattolica di Stilovia Cattolica, s.n.c. - Stilo
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore museums in Calabria
- Free 1st Sunday
Frequently asked questions
Where is Cattolica di Stilo?
Cattolica di Stilo is in Stilo, in the province of Reggio Calabria (Calabria), Italy. Address: via Cattolica, s.n.c. - Stilo. GPS coordinates: 38.48019, 16.46825.
Can I visit Cattolica di Stilo for free?
Yes: entry is free on the first Sunday of every month, under the Italian “Domenica al museo” scheme.
How old is Cattolica di Stilo?
Wikidata dates it to the 9th century.
What else is there to see near Cattolica di Stilo?
Nearby you’ll find: Castle of Stilo (300 m away), Stilo (400 m away), Ecomuseo delle ferriere e fonderie di Calabria (1.4 km away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 8 photos
- La cattolica di stilo, esterno 06 — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Biglietti per la Cattolica di Stilo dopo il restauro (2026) — Marcuscalabresus, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cattolica di Stilo - Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy - 18 June 2011 — don Tommaso, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Cattolica di Stilo (2026) — Marcuscalabresus, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cattolica Stilo Calabria 034 — Odilia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- La cattolica di stilo, esterno 01 — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Stilo - Cattolica di Stilo - 2025-09-06 07-42-33 001 — Andrea Martini di Cigala, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stilo - Cattolica di Stilo — Bearbil2, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences