Overview
The Cathedral of San Tommaso in Ortona is dedicated to St Thomas the apostle. The relics of the saint are kept inside the church, which was originally erected on the ruins of a pagan place of worship, and then rebuilt after the Second World War.
The facade of the cathedral, with its two ogival arches in Gothic style, built in 1311 by Nicola Mancino from Ortona, is all that remains of its original form. The portal was in fact rebuilt with fragments that survived the war. Inside the chapel there are two ceramic panels attributed to Tommaso Cascella. The saint's skull is enclosed in a silver bust placed in a shrine of the altar, and the relic is exhibited only on the occasion of solemn celebrations, such as the Feast of the Pardon, which is held on the first Sunday of May.
The Diocesan Museum is located past the left aisle. Works from the 15th to the 18th century are exhibited here, including medieval sculptures, altarpieces, silverware, textiles, votive offerings, and furnishings from the cathedral and churches in other cities.
