Chiesa di Santa Maria Nuova

The Cathedral of Viterbo is a Romanesque building dating from the 12th century, although the façade, due to modifications made in the 16th century, is in Renaissance style. The cathedral gained considerable importance in the second half of the 13th century when it became the seat of the papacy with the nearby Palace of the Popes. Two popes were buried in the cathedral: Pope Alexander IV (1199-1261), born Rinaldo di Jenne, who fled to Viterbo for fear of being captured by Manfred of Sicily, and whose tomb was lost, and Pope John XXI (1210-1277), born Pedro Julião, the only pope of Portuguese origin.

Montefiascone Cathedral was built when Pope Urban V instituted the Diocese of Montefiascone (14th century). The construction of the dome took place from 1670 following a terrible fire on the night of Good Friday which destroyed the roof of the cathedral and part of its interior. The dome, with a diameter of 27 metres, is one of the largest in Italy.

The present Orte Cathedral, opened for worship in 1721, was built to replace the previous medieval basilica, whose three-nave plan it retains. The stucco decoration is rococo, rather sober and elegant. The floor, originally made of terracotta, was replaced in the second half of the twentieth century by white Carrara marble.