RAVELLO. - Ancient diocese and small town in the province of Salerno. Some hold that R. was founded in the Gothic age, others that it was founded by Amalfi, of whose Duchy it later formed part; it was sacked by the Pisans in 1137; its most flourishing period was during the 13th century, to which the artistic Palazzo Rufolo and several churches belong.
The diocese was created in 1087 by Pope Victor III, who consecrated its first bishop, Orso, a Benedictine monk. Urban II declared it immediately subject and consecrated as second bishop Constantine Rogadeo. There followed G. Rufolo, P. Pironti, L. Rogadei, G. Allegri Ottano, F. Castaldi, A. Agmensi later cardinal, N. Campanile; in 1536 its administrator was Card. Quignones; later L. Beccadelli, P. De Curtis, a Theatine, then vicegerent of Rome under Clement VIII, d. in Rome in 1629. In 1603 the said Pope united the see of R. with that of Scala, the bishops remaining directly subject as bishops of R., and suffragans of Amalfi as bishops of Scala. At the head of the two dioceses were Monsignors F. Benni, M. Bonsi, O. Verme, C. Puccitelli, B. Pannicola, G. Sagezi, L. Di Capua, N. Rocco, G. Perimezzi, the last being S. Miccù, transferred to Amalfi in 1804. Pius VII, with the bull De utiliori, suppressed the two dioceses, uniting them to Amalfi.
The Cathedral, dedicated to the B. V. Assunta, has three naves divided by pillars; it was erected by Bishop Orso and was transformed in the 18th century into its present state. The pulpit, executed by Niccolò da Foggia in 1272, depicts the scenes of Jonah; the episcopal throne is also contemporary. The 13th-century bell tower has double-light windows; the bronze portal is by Barisano da Trani and bears the date 1179. Other notable churches are S. Giovanni in Toro, also with three naves, S. Agostino, S. Maria a Gradillo, the Annunziata, S. Martino and S. Antonio with an elegant cloister. In R. flourished the monasteries of S. Maria, SS. Trifone and Biagio (late 11th century) and the female monastery of the Most Holy Trinity (mid-10th century). - See plate XXIII.
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Enrico Josi