MOTTOLA (MUTYLA, MOTULA). - Ancient diocese, suffragan of Taranto, in the province of Lecce. After the ancient city of Mateola fell into ruin, the new one was rebuilt in 1023 and named Mutyla or Motula, today M.; it was then erected as a diocese, and its first bishop died in 1040.

The city was sacked at the end of the 15th century. In 1557 the bishop S. Rebiba was created cardinal and retained the diocese in administration. Its last bishop was M. Palmieri in 1798.

Pope Pius VII, in 1818, with the letter De utiliori, suppressed the diocese, uniting it with that of Castellaneta. The ancient Cathedral dedicated to the B. V. Assunta dates from the 15th century, but only a few small arches on the north side survive; the rest was transformed in the 16th century. Near M. there are some Basilian crypts; the best known are those of S. Gregorio, with three naves and three apses, and of S. Nicola with notable frescoes.

Bibliography5 works

BIBL.: Ughelli, IX, p. 159; X, p. 286; Eubel, II, p. 197; III, p. 251; IV, p. 250. Enrico Josi

@incollection{ec8_mottola_mutyla_motula, author = {Josi, Enrico}, title = {Mottola (Mutyla, motula)}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {VIII}, pages = {1486--1487}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1952}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/mottola-mutyla-motula} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

Mottola (Mutyla, Motula)

About this entry