Among the religious buildings to discover in Gallipoli the most important is the Cathedral of Saint Agata. Built from 1629, it is situated near the centre of the city, where it is surrounded by numerous palaces, and is the most important Baroque architecture building in Gallipoli.
Several centuries earlier, on the same site, there was another church, first dedicated to Saint John Chrysostom and then, from 1126, to St. Agata but this church was destroyed.
The cathedral façade is made of stone and incorporates various statues depicting Saint Agata and other saints. The interior of the cathedral has a Latin cross form with three naves intermixed with two rows of Doric columns and an altar of polychrome marble. In the two aisles stand 12 minor altars.
Francesco Bischettimi and Scipione Lachibari, following a drawing by Giovan Bernardino Genuino (17th century), were the creators of the work. The interior decorations are largely the work of Giovanni Andrea Coppola (1597-1659), a native of Gallipoli who painted several of the altars.
As well as many impressive art works there are numerous relics of Saints preserved in the cathedral.
