Orvieto Cathedral

Welcome to Orvieto, a city that seems to grow directly out of the volcanic tufa cliff upon which it sits. As we stand here in the Piazza del Duomo, we are face-to-face with what many consider the most spectacular church facade in…

Standing before the lower section of the facade, you are looking at one of the greatest achievements of medieval stone carving. The four massive pillars, which support the weight of the facade's vertical design, are entirely…

As we approach the three grand entrances, your eyes are likely drawn to the bronze doors. While they look ancient, these are actually modern additions by the sculptor Emilio Greco, installed in 1970 to replace the original wooden…

Dominating the upper center of the facade is the magnificent rose window, a masterpiece executed by Andrea di Cione, better known as Orcagna, between 1354 and 1380. This architectural feature is the 'eye' of the cathedral, a…

Stepping inside the cathedral, the first thing you notice is the dramatic contrast between the exuberant, colorful facade and the somber, striped majesty of the interior. The nave is lined with alternating layers of dark basalt…

We are now in the Chapel of the Corporal, the spiritual core of Orvieto Cathedral. This chapel was built specifically to house the sacred relic of the Miracle of Bolsena, which occurred in 1263. …

Across the cathedral, in the south transept, we enter the Chapel of San Brizio, Orvieto’s 'one must-see artistic site'. This chapel is home to Luca Signorelli’s breathtaking frescoes of the Apocalypse, painted between 1499 and…

As we exit the cathedral and return to the sunlight of the piazza, look back one last time at the facade. Near the corner of the square, you will see the Torre di Maurizio, a small tower topped by a bronze statue that still…