CASTELLMMARE DI STABIA, DIOCESE OF. In the province of Naples. The ancient Stabiae of the Romans, famous for its thermal waters. It has an area of 36 sq. km. with 39 parishes, 101 diocesan priests, 38 regular priests, a minor seminary, and 80,000 inhabitants, all Catholic. It is a suffragan of Sorrento. Christianity is attested by monuments at the beginning of the 5th century. The first known bishop is Orso in the year 499; then a Lorenzo from the year 600 to 612, whose epitaph is also known (Ughelli, VI, p. 636).
The Cathedral, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Assumed, dates from 1587 with restorations in 1875. In 1879, in the foundations of the new sacristy beside the Cathedral, the remains of the ancient open-air Christian cemetery of the community of Stabiae were discovered, namely three sarcophagi and some simple graves in the ground. Among the inscriptions brought to light (CIL, X, 8139-42), one is from 401, others recall an Oppius Paulus, buried in nomine Theodosii, a paella Limonita, many lamps in terracotta contained monogrammatic crosses; finally, a small hoard of coins datable from Arcadius and Honorius to Theodosius the Younger and Pulcheria. At Varano there is a Christian inscription from the year 535 (CIL, X, II, 786).
Castellanbolfo - Interior of the papal villa.
Decorations from the early 19th century with recent restorations.