Viterbo Cathedral

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.

About this building

Key Features

  • Architecture
  • Famous people or stories

Visitors information

  • Parking within 250m
  • Café within 500m

Other nearby buildings

Wikimedia Commons/SiBen9

Chiesa di Santa Maria Nuova

The church of Santa Maria Nuova is a Romanesque church dating from the 11th century. The present church must have been built on the site of a pre-existing sacred building, perhaps dating from the 6th century, dedicated to the Virgin, or even a pagan temple dedicated to Jupiter. Restoration work carried out between 1907 and 1914 restored the church to its original style, after additions made between the 17th and 19th centuries.

Wikimedia Commons/Mia91

Montefiascone Cathedral

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.

Wikimedia Commons/Croberto68

Orte Cathedral

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 The floor, originally made of terracotta, was replaced in the second half of the twentieth century by white Carrara marble.