All Churches

The Church of Piedigrotta is one of the most unusual religious sites in Pizzo. The church is carved directly into a coastal tuff rock cave near the Tyrrhenian Sea. It combines religious devotion, local legends, marine history, and sculptural art in a single monument. Located close to the beach below the town of Pizzo, the church is famous for its rock-carved statues, underground chambers, and dramatic seaside setting. The site is officially known as Chiesetta di Piedigrotta and attracts visitors from all over Italy. The Church of Piedigrotta is not a traditional church built with masonry and external facades. Instead, most spaces were excavated directly into sandstone rock formations over many decades. The interior contains numerous statues representing biblical figures, saints, angels, and scenes from Christian tradition. Many sculptures appear to emerge naturally from the cave walls. The monument became widely known during the 20th century thanks to photographs and travel publications dedicated to Calabria. Its unusual appearance made it one of the symbolic landmarks of the Tyrrhenian coast. Today, the Church of Piedigrotta represents one of the most important cultural attractions in the province of Vibo Valentia. It is also considered one of the most distinctive cave churches in Read more [...]

The Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino, widely known as Trani Cathedral, is the principal religious monument of Trani. It rises within the historical center, only a few steps from the Adriatic Sea, occupying a commanding position that visually links sacred architecture with the maritime identity of the city. Officially named Basilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, the church is universally regarded as one of the finest and most complete expressions of Apulian-Romanesque architecture. Its pale limestone surfaces, monumental forms, and refined decorative elements embody the artistic maturity reached in southern Italy during the Middle Ages. Over time, the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino has been repeatedly described as the Queen of the Cathedrals of Apulia. This title reflects not only its architectural elegance but also its symbolic importance in regional history. Recognized as an Italian national monument, the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino stands as a defining landmark of Trani and one of the most admired sacred buildings along the Adriatic coast.   Short History of the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino The origins of the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino are inseparable from the story of Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim, known in Italian as San Nicola Pellegrino. His life Read more [...]

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Geminiano is the Cathedral of Modena, located on Corso Duomo, in the historical center of the city. The Cathedral of Modena is a masterpiece of the Romanesque style, built on the site of the tomb of San Geminiano (Saint Geminianus), patron saint of Modena. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Geminiano, along with its bell tower (Torre Ghirlandina) and the adjacent Piazza Grande were included in 1997 in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.   SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA AND SAN GEMINIANO After the ancient Mutina was destroyed by invasions, earthquakes and floods, and the inhabitants moved to Cittanova, the bishop continued to reside in the main church of the city, where the remains of the patron saint were kept. Over time, a residential nucleus formed around the church, which became the center of today’s Modena. Around the middle of the 11th century, the ancient church was replaced by a larger one, which, however, due to the lack of skills of the builders, threatened to collapse towards the end of the century. Consequently, the people of Modena, independently from the imperial and ecclesiastical powers Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna is one of the most extraordinary monuments of early Byzantine architecture and art in Europe. Located in Via San Vitale, just a few meters from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Basilica of San Vitale represents the artistic, political, and religious transformation of Ravenna during the 6th century, when the city stood at the crossroads between the Roman world and the Byzantine Empire. Constructed between 532 and 547, the Basilica of San Vitale is celebrated above all for its magnificent mosaic decoration, considered among the finest surviving examples of Byzantine art outside Constantinople. Its interior combines architectural innovation, rich symbolism, and imperial ideology, creating a space that communicates theological meaning through geometry, light, and color. In 1996, the basilica was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna, recognizing its outstanding universal value and its exceptional state of preservation. Despite its relatively modest exterior, the Basilica of San Vitale reveals a breathtaking interior where mosaics, marbles, stuccoes, and architectural forms work together to convey a vision of divine authority and cosmic order.   Short History of the Basilica of San Vitale The Basilica of San Read more [...]

The Cathedral of San Ciriaco (Ancona Cathedral) is the principal place of worship in the city of Ancona and one of the most evocative religious monuments on the Adriatic coast. It rises dramatically on the summit of Monte Guasco, overlooking the harbor and the historic center. This privileged location was not chosen by chance. Monte Guasco was once the acropolis of the ancient Greek city, and for more than two millennia it has remained the spiritual and symbolic heart of Ancona. The Cathedral of San Ciriaco dominates the landscape, visible from both land and sea, acting as a landmark for travelers and sailors alike. The Ancona Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Cyriacus, the city’s patron saint, whose remains are preserved inside the building. What makes the Cathedral of San Ciriaco particularly distinctive is its architectural synthesis. Romanesque structure, Byzantine influences, and Gothic elements coexist in a balanced and harmonious way, making the Ancona Cathedral one of the most important examples of medieval architecture in Italy.   Short History of the Cathedral of San Ciriaco The history of the Cathedral of San Ciriaco begins long before the Christian era. In the 4th century BC, Greek settlers from Syracuse established themselves in Read more [...]

Tempio Malatestiano, also known as the Cathedral of Santa Colomba, is the Cathedral of Rimini, located in Via IV Novembre.   SHORT HISTORY OF TEMPIO MALATESTIANO A chapel dedicated to Santa Maria in Trivio is documented on this site in the 9th century. The chapel was demolished in 1257, to allow the construction of a larger church in Gothic style, dedicated to San Francesco and supported by the Franciscan order. Between the 13th and 14th centuries, two chapels were added on the southern side of the church. Despite its modest size, the structure was enriched by altars and works of art, including works by Giotto. In 1312, it was already used as a burial place for the Malatesta family. Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, decided to built a chapel dedicated to San Sigismondo, and entrusted the project to Matteo de’ Pasti from Verona. On October 31, 1447, the first stone of Tempio Malatestiano was laid. In the following years, after a successful series of victories, Sigismondo decided to extend the project to the entire structure. Leon Battista Alberti was entrusted with the project of a new church, which included the addition of a rotunda in the rear part of Read more [...]

The Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, is the Cathedral of Turin, located in the homonymous square, Piazza San Giovanni. The Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista is famous for housing since 1578 the Holy Shroud of Turin.   SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL OF SAN GIOVANNI BATTISTA In ancient times, the area in which the cathedral was later built housed three early Christian churches, dedicated to San Salvatore, Santa Maria di Dompno and San Giovanni Battista. The one dedicated to San Giovanni Battista was consecrated during the time of the Lombard King Agilulf, at the end of the 6th or the beginning of the 7th century, when Saint John the Baptist was proclaimed patron of the Lombard kingdom. The three churches were demolished between 1490 and 1492, and on July 22, 1941, the regent of Savoy, widow of Charles I, Blanche of Montferrat, laid the first stone of the future cathedral. The construction of the cathedral was entrusted to Amedeo de Francisco da Settignano, who worked there until his death in 1501. The work on the cathedral was completed in 1505, and the consecration took place on September 21 of the same year. The project Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Cathedral of the Nativity of Saint Mary, better known as Duomo di Milano, is the largest church in Italy, and the fourth largest in the world. The Cathedral, which took almost six hundred years to complete, is the most important tourist attraction in Milan and the most famous symbol of the city.   SHORT HISTORY Once, on the site where the Duomo stands today, there was the ancient Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Basilica of Santa Tecla. After the collapse of the bell tower of the cathedral, the Archbishop Antonio de’ Saluzzi, supported by the population, proposed in 1386 the building of a new and larger cathedral. To make room for the new church, both churches were demolished. In January 1387, the foundations of the pylons were laid. The chief architect was Simone d’Orsenigo, who, in 1388, began the perimeter walls. Between 1389 and 1390, the French Nicolas de Bonaventure was commissioned to design the windows. In 1393, the first capital of the pillars was sculpted by Giovannino de’ Grassi, who was the main architect of the work until his death, in 1398. In 1400, Filippino degli Orgi took his place, who focused Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide St Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) is the cathedral of Venice and one of the most famous religious monuments in Italy. It stands in Piazza San Marco, in the sestiere of San Marco, beside the Doge’s Palace and close to the lagoon-facing Piazzetta. The Basilica is dedicated to Saint Mark the Evangelist, whose relics are traditionally believed to have been brought to Venice from Alexandria in the 9th century. Its position, decoration and ceremonial role made it one of the main symbols of the Venetian Republic. For centuries, St Mark’s Basilica was not the official cathedral of Venice, but the palatine chapel of the Doge. It served the political and religious life of the Venetian state, hosting major ceremonies, processions and solemn events connected to the government of the Republic. Today, Basilica di San Marco is admired for its Byzantine architecture, five domes, golden mosaics, marble decoration, bronze horses, precious treasury and the famous Pala d’Oro. It is one of the essential landmarks for understanding the history, art and identity of Venice.     Mark the Evangelist Mark the Evangelist is one of the four Evangelists of Christian tradition and is traditionally associated with the Read more [...]

The Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua is the most important religious monument in Padua and one of the best-known Catholic shrines in Italy. Located in Piazza del Santo, it is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, the Portuguese Franciscan friar who died near the city in 1231. The Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua is known locally as Il Santo, meaning “The Saint”. This simple name shows the special relationship between Padua and Saint Anthony. For locals, pilgrims, and visitors, the church is not only a monument, but the spiritual center of the saint’s memory in the city. Although it is the most famous church in Padua, the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua is not the cathedral of the city. That role belongs to Padua Cathedral, near Piazza Duomo. The Basilica of Saint Anthony is instead a pontifical basilica and a major international pilgrimage destination. The basilica is visited every year by millions of pilgrims and travelers. Many come to pray at the tomb of Saint Anthony, ask for intercession, or give thanks. Others visit the church for its architecture, artworks, relics, chapels, cloisters, and long Franciscan history. The heart of the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua Read more [...]

Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio is a beautiful church in Milan, located in Piazza Sant’Ambrogio. One of the oldest churches in the city, it is traditionally considered the second most important church in Milan, after the Duomo.   SHORT HISTORY A first church was built on this place between 379 and 386, at the behest of the bishop of Milan, Ambrogio, in an area where Christians martyrs of the Roman persecutions were buried. For this, it was dedicated to the martyrs and called Basilica Martyrum. Ambrogio wanted to place here all the relics of the holy martyrs Vittore, Nabore, Felice, Vitale, Valeria, Gervasio and Protasio. In 397, he was also buried here, and the church was later renamed in his honor. In the 9th century, the bishop Angilbert II added a large apse to the church, preceded by a room with a barrel vault, under which the liturgical functions took place. In the same period, the apse was decorated with a large mosaic, the Redeemer enthroned between the martyrs Protasio and Gervasio, with the archangels Michael and Gabriel above. The basilica received its current shape between 1088 and 1099, when, at the behest of Bishop Anselmo III da Rho, it was radically Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore is one of the most important churches in Verona, dedicated to Saint Zeno, the city’s patron saint and an early Christian bishop. The basilica stands in Piazza San Zeno, west of the historic center, and is among the clearest examples of Romanesque architecture in northern Italy. The church develops on three main levels: the crypt, the plebeian nave, and the raised presbytery. The present structure preserves several medieval phases, especially from the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 14th centuries. Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore is also connected with the former Benedictine abbey that once stood beside it. Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore is known for its tuff and brick exterior, sculpted porch, bronze doors, large rose window, crypt, medieval frescoes, and the celebrated altarpiece by Andrea Mantegna. The church combines religious importance, local identity, architectural clarity, and major works of medieval and Renaissance art. In 1973, the church was elevated to the dignity of a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI. Today, Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore remains a parish church, a major monument, and one of the most meaningful religious sites in Verona, because it preserves the memory and cult of Read more [...]

The Cathedral of Sant’Alessandro is the Cathedral of Bergamo, dedicated to Saint Alexander, the patron saint of the city. The Cathedral is located in the historical center of the city – Città Alta, in the small but beautiful Piazza del Duomo, near Palazzo della Ragione and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.   SHORT HISTORY In the 8th century, a church in Romanesque style was built here, on the site of a paleochristian place of worship dating back to the 5th century. The church was dedicated to San Vincenzo (Saint Vincent of Saragossa). Around the middle of the 15th century, the bishop Giovanni Barozzi decided to build a larger church, entrusting the project to the Florentine architect Filarete. On May 3, 1459, the first stone was laid, and in 1467 the first chapel on the left side was completed and dedicated to Saint Catherine and Saint Jerome. However, after a couple of years, the works suffered an abrupt interruption due to the death of Filarete and to the simultaneous election of bishop Barozzi as Patriarch of Venice. In 1561, the Church of Sant’Alessandro in Colonna was demolished for the construction of the Venetian Walls. The relics of the saint were Read more [...]

The Cathedral of San Nicolò, often referred to simply as Noto Cathedral, stands at the heart of the Sicilian baroque city of Noto, in the province of Syracuse. As a masterpiece of Sicilian Baroque architecture, the Cathedral of San Nicolò dominates the town’s skyline, rising at the top of a grand triple staircase – a vision in honey-colored limestone that glows in the warm southern sunlight. Despite dramatic events – including a disastrous collapse in 1996 – the cathedral has been restored and today continues to welcome visitors and worshippers alike, inviting them to explore the history, art, and spirituality embedded within its walls.   Short History of the Cathedral of San Nicolò The story of Noto Cathedral begins with tragedy and rises into grandeur. In 1693, a catastrophic earthquake struck southeastern Sicily, leveling entire towns, including the original medieval city of Noto (now known as Noto Antica). The devastation was total: many buildings were destroyed or severely damaged. In the period following the earthquake, a decision was made not simply to repair the old city, but to rebuild the city of Noto entirely on a new site. This ambitious reconstruction would shape what we now know as Noto and Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Baptistery of San Giovanni is one of the main religious monuments in Pisa‘s Piazza dei Miracoli, officially known as Piazza del Duomo. It stands in front of the western façade of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, south of the Camposanto Monumentale, and close to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Baptistery of San Giovanni belongs to the monumental complex that defines medieval Pisa: Cathedral, Baptistery, Bell Tower, and Camposanto. Its position is not accidental. The baptistery was placed opposite the Cathedral because baptism marked the beginning of Christian life, before the faithful entered the cathedral community. The Baptistery of San Giovanni is also one of the clearest examples of Pisa’s long medieval building history. Its lower structure is Romanesque, while its upper levels show Gothic additions. The monument therefore records more than two centuries of construction, artistic change, technical ambition, and civic identity. Unlike the Leaning Tower, the Baptistery is often admired quietly rather than theatrically. Yet it is one of the most important monuments in the square. It is the largest baptistery in the world, a major work of medieval architecture, and home to one of the most influential pulpits in Italian sculpture. Read more [...]

The Cathedral of the Madonna della Bruna and Sant’Eustachio, commonly known as Matera Cathedral, is the cathedral of Matera and one of the most important religious monuments in southern Italy. The Matera Cathedral is dedicated to the Madonna della Bruna, the Virgin Mary venerated as the patron saint of the city, and to Saint Eustace, an early Christian martyr associated with the medieval Benedictine tradition of the site. The church stands on the highest point of the historic city, in the area known as La Civita, positioned dramatically between the two ancient districts of Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano. From this elevated location, the Cathedral of the Madonna della Bruna dominates the urban landscape of Matera, visually and symbolically representing the spiritual center of the city. Its position reflects the medieval concept of sacred hierarchy, where the cathedral rises above the surrounding dwellings carved into the rock.     Short History of the Cathedral of the Madonna della Bruna The Matera Cathedral was constructed between 1230 and 1270, during a period of intense architectural and urban development in southern Italy. The building was erected on the remains of an 11th-century Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Eustace, confirming the continuity of Read more [...]

The Cathedral of Sant’Agata is the Cathedral of Catania, dedicated to the martyr Saint Agatha, located in the main square of the city, Piazza del Duomo.   SHORT HISTORY The church had a tumultuous history, being repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt after the earthquakes occurred in the area. A first church was built around 1086 on the ruins of the Achilliane Baths dating back to Roman times. On February 4, 1169, an earthquake completely destroyed the ceiling of the church, killing many people gathered in the Cathedral. In 1194, under the reign of Henry VI, a fire caused considerable damage to the structure. In 1693, the terrible earthquake of Val di Noto destroyed the Cathedral almost completely, leaving only the apse and the facade. The bell tower was also put to the ground. The reconstruction of the church was made during the 18th century. The current building is the work of the architect Girolamo Palazzotto, who is responsible for the interior, while Giovanni Battista Vaccarini designed the facade, which was built between 1734 and 1761. In 1857, the bell tower was completed, and the current layout of the churchyard was built in the 19th century.   ARCHITECTURE The facade of the Read more [...]

With 132 meters in length and 60 meters wide, the Basilica of San Petronio is the sixth largest church in Europe, despite being largely unfinished. Although is not the cathedral of Bologna, a title that belongs to the nearby Cathedral of San Pietro, it can be considered the main church of the city.   SHORT HISTORY In the 14th century, the Bolognese aristocracy revived the cult of San Petronio, bishop of Bologna during the 5th century, and planned to build a church dedicated to him. On June 7, 1390, the first stone was laid in a solemn procession. The project was given to the architect Antonio di Vicenzo, who consulted on the design of the church with the father Andrea Manfredi. At the beginning of the 15th century, di Vicenzo died, and the Papal Legate Baldassarre Cossa, an enemy of the Municipality of Bologna, took advantage of the architect’s death to sell the material gathered for the construction of the church. In 1507, the architect Arduino Arriguzzi was comissioned to continue the work. Arriguzzi was sent to Florence to see and study the dome built by Brunelleschi for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. On April 30, 1514, the Read more [...]

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola is a small historic church standing on the homonymous sandstone rock in Tropea, on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria. Together with the cliff, the sea, and the beach below, it forms one of the most recognizable views of the town. The Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola rises in front of Tropea’s historic center, on a rock once completely surrounded by the sea. This detail explains the name “dell’Isola”, meaning “of the island”. Today, the rock is connected to the mainland, but its isolated position still defines the identity of the monument. Seen from the beaches of Tropea, the church appears above the coastline like a small fortified religious complex. Its position makes it not only a place of worship, but also one of the most photographed landmarks in Calabria. For many visitors, it is the visual symbol of Tropea and the Costa degli Dei.   The Legend of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola The history of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola is accompanied by a local legend connected to a statue of the Virgin Mary. According to tradition, during the period of Byzantine iconoclasm, a wooden statue of the Madonna arrived in Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is the Cathedral of Orvieto, located in Piazza del Duomo, in the historical center of the town. An Italian national monument, the Cathedral of Orvieto is one of the most beautiful churches in Italy and the world, and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.   SHORT HISTORY The construction of the cathedral was started in 1290 at the behest of Pope Nicholas IV. The church was designed in Romanesque style by an unknown architect, probably by Arnolfo di Cambio. At the beginning, the project was entrusted to Fra Bevignate from Perugia, and later, before the end of the 13th century, to Giovanni di Ugguccione, who introduced the first Gothic forms. At the beginning of the 14th century, the Sienese sculptor and architect Lorenzo Maitani assumed the role of master builder, changing the design of the church into something similar to the Cathedral of Siena. In 1330, Lorenzo Maitani died, but the works were far from over. Various architects succeeded him, assuming the role of master builder, often for short periods. The Chapel of the Corporal (Cappella del Corporale) was built between 1350 and 1356, and the Chapel of Saint Britius (Cappella Read more [...]

The Cathedral of San Martino is the cathedral church of Lucca and the principal place of worship of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lucca. It stands in Piazza San Martino, close to Piazza Antelminelli and the former episcopal complex, within the southeastern part of the city’s walled historical center. Dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, the Cathedral of San Martino developed from an early medieval religious building traditionally attributed to Bishop Frediano. Its present appearance records several major building phases, combining a richly decorated Romanesque exterior with a tall, predominantly Gothic interior created through successive medieval and Renaissance interventions. The Lucca Cathedral is especially important for three reasons: its asymmetrical marble façade, the venerated wooden crucifix known as the Volto Santo di Lucca, and the marble Funerary Monument of Ilaria del Carretto by Jacopo della Quercia. Together, these elements connect architecture, pilgrimage, civic identity, and artistic patronage. The cathedral also formed part of a wider episcopal and liturgical complex that included the nearby Church of Santi Giovanni e Reparata, its baptistery, ecclesiastical buildings, and spaces now incorporated into the Cathedral Museum and archaeological itinerary. This concentration of monuments preserves evidence from Roman, early Christian, medieval, and later periods.   Short Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Cathedral of Siena, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, is located in the historical center of the city, in Piazza del Duomo. A great exemple of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, the Cathedral of Siena is one of the most beautiful churches in Italy.   SHORT HISTORY It seems that the current Cathedral of Siena replaced a first church dedicated to Saint Mary, built around the 9th century, which in turn replaced an ancient temple dedicated to Minerva. The first documented information about the building of the Cathedral dates back to 1226, when the first costs and contracts related to the construction were recorded. Probably, the works began some time before that, because the consecration tooked place, according to the tradition, on November 18, 1179. Between 1238 and 1285, the church was administered by the monks of San Galgano. From 1284 to 1297, Giovanni Pisano was responsible for the construction of the lower part of the facade, completed between 1299 and 1317 by Camaino di Crescentino, father of the sculptor Tino di Camaino. The bell-tower, at a height of 77 meters, was finished in 1313. The works were completed in 1370.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE The Cathedral of Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Located in the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, officially known as Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta stands between the Baptistery of San Giovanni and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is the religious center of one of Europe’s most recognizable medieval architectural complexes. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is also known as the Duomo di Pisa, or Pisa Cathedral, and it is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Pisa and preserves the title of primatial church, connected to the historic dignity granted to the Pisan archbishop. The building is one of the clearest masterpieces of Pisan Romanesque architecture, a style shaped by classical, Lombard, Byzantine, Islamic, and Mediterranean influences. Its marble surfaces, loggias, arcades, mosaics, and sculptural decoration reflect Pisa’s power during the height of its maritime expansion. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta forms the spiritual core of the square. Around it, the Baptistery, the Leaning Tower, and the Camposanto Monumentale complete a monumental group built between the 11th and 14th centuries, when Pisa was one of the most influential maritime republics in the Mediterranean.   Short History of the Cathedral of Santa Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, also known as the Cappella degli Scrovegni or Arena Chapel, is one of the greatest monuments of Western art. Dedicated to Santa Maria della Carità, it is famous for the fresco cycle painted by Giotto di Bondone between 1303 and 1305. The chapel stands in Piazza Eremitani, close to the remains of the ancient Roman arena of Padua. Its name comes from Enrico degli Scrovegni, the wealthy Paduan banker who commissioned the building, the private oratory, and the decoration that made it world-famous. Since 2021, the chapel has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site called Padua’s Fourteenth-Century Fresco Cycles. The site includes eight frescoed complexes in Padua, created between 1302 and 1397, and the Scrovegni Chapel is its most famous component. Giotto’s work inside the chapel changed the language of painting. His figures show weight, space, emotion, human gestures, grief, tenderness, fear, and hope. For this reason, the frescoes are considered a decisive step toward the artistic innovations that later shaped the Italian Renaissance. The chapel is not large, but its artistic importance is enormous. The interior is a single rectangular nave with a barrel vault, almost entirely covered Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the main church of Florence and one of the most recognizable monuments in Italy. Located in Piazza del Duomo, in the historic center of Florence, it forms a monumental religious complex with Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, and the Opera del Duomo Museum. Commonly known as Florence Cathedral, the church replaced the older cathedral of Santa Reparata, whose archaeological remains can still be visited below the present building. The cathedral is famous for its vast Gothic structure, its marble exterior, and the revolutionary dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 15th century. When the cathedral was structurally completed in 1436, it was among the largest churches ever built. Today, it remains one of the largest churches in the world, with an internal length of 153 meters, a width of 90 meters at the transept, and the largest masonry dome ever constructed.   Short History of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral) From Santa Reparata to a New Cathedral The site of the cathedral had religious importance long before the construction of the present church. The older cathedral, Santa Reparata, stood here for Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi is a church in Gothic style in Assisi, located in the western part of the historical center of the town. The Basilica of Saint Francis is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Franciscan Order, an important place of pilgrimage, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Here, Saint Francis, one of the most venerated religious figures of the Catholic Church, is buried.   SHORT HISTORY The Basilica of Saint Francis is composed, actually, of two churches. The Lower Church was built between 1228 and 1230, only 4 years after the saint’s death, at the behest of Pope Gregory IX, while the Upper Church was built between 1230 and 1253. Both churches were consecrated on May 25, 1253, by Pope Innocent IV. The Sacro Convento friary, with its imposing walls supported by 53 arches and powerful buttresses, was erected between the 12th and the 15th century with stone from the near Mount Subasio. An important part of the friary was built under the pontificate of Pope Sixtus IV, a Franciscan, near the end of the 15th century. A crypt was dug in 1818, for the tomb of Saint Francis. Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is one of the most important religious monuments in Florence and one of the major Franciscan churches in Europe. It stands in Piazza Santa Croce, in the eastern part of the historic center, not far from the Arno River, the Uffizi area, and the medieval streets around Borgo Santa Croce. Basilica di Santa Croce is about 115 meters long and 38 meters wide, making it one of the largest churches in Florence. Its monumental complex covers about 12,000 square meters and includes cloisters, chapels, museum spaces, and convent buildings. Basilica di Santa Croce is also known as the Temple of the Italian Glories because it preserves or commemorates many important figures in Italian history. Among the people buried or honored here are Michelangelo Buonarroti, Galileo Galilei, Niccolò Machiavelli, Vittorio Alfieri, Ugo Foscolo, and Gioachino Rossini. The basilica is not only a burial place. It is also one of Florence’s richest artistic sites, with works connected to Giotto, Agnolo Gaddi, Taddeo Gaddi, Donatello, Filippo Brunelleschi, Giorgio Vasari, Bronzino, and Antonio Canova.   Short History of Basilica di Santa Croce The Franciscan Origins The history of the Basilica di Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Basilica of Saint John Lateran, also known as Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano and Lateran Basilica, is the cathedral of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. The basilica is located in Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano, near the Caelian Hill. Although many visitors associate the Pope mainly with Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Basilica of Saint John Lateran has a higher ecclesiastical rank. It is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the mother and head of all Catholic churches in Rome and throughout the world. The full official name of the church is the Papal Archbasilica Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran. In Italian, it is known as Arcibasilica Papale del Santissimo Salvatore e dei Santi Giovanni Battista ed Evangelista in Laterano. The basilica is the highest-ranking of the four papal major basilicas of Rome. Its special title of Archbasilica reflects its unique importance in Catholic tradition. The other papal major basilicas are Saint Peter’s Basilica, Saint Paul Outside the Walls, and Saint Mary Major. The Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano stands Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Pantheon is one of the most remarkable monuments in Rome, located in Piazza della Rotonda, in the historic center of the city. It stands a short walk from Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, and Largo di Torre Argentina, making it one of the most accessible ancient landmarks in Rome. With nearly 2,000 years of continuous history, the Pantheon is among the best-preserved buildings of ancient Rome. Originally created as a Roman temple, it later became a Christian church and is still officially known as the Basilica of Santa Maria ad Martyres, or Saint Mary and the Martyrs. The monument is famous for its extraordinary combination of Roman engineering, religious continuity, and architectural harmony. Its most celebrated feature is the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever built, a structure whose diameter is almost equal to the total interior height of the building. Today, the Pantheon remains both a place of worship and one of Rome’s most visited monuments. Its survival is closely linked to its conversion into a church in 609 AD, which protected it from the abandonment and systematic spoliation suffered by many other ancient Roman buildings.     Short History of the Pantheon The Temple Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide St Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) is the largest of the four papal basilicas of Rome and one of the most important religious buildings in Christianity. Officially known as the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, it stands in Vatican City, at the western end of Piazza San Pietro. Although the basilica is located in Vatican City, an independent state, it is usually visited during a trip to Rome. Its position, close to Castel Sant’Angelo, the Tiber River and the historic center of Rome, makes it one of the most accessible and significant landmarks for visitors to the Eternal City. The basilica is often described as one of the largest churches in the world, both for its physical dimensions and for its role in Catholicism. It is the site of major papal liturgies and one of the most important pilgrimage destinations connected to the Apostle Peter. However, St Peter’s Basilica is not the cathedral of Rome. That title belongs to the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the official seat of the Bishop of Rome. Saint Peter’s Basilica is instead a papal basilica closely connected with the Vatican, the papacy and the tomb traditionally Read more [...]