Menu
A duomo is a temple of worship—the House of God (Domus Dei)—that is usually the main cathedral of a city or diocese. It is derived from the Latin word “duomos,” which means “home.” Although a duomo does not have to have a dome, the two words have a Latin origin.
If you’re planning a trip to Italy then be prepared to come across this word a lot.
The majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, world-renowned as the Duomo of Florence, is frequently referred to as “The Duomo.” However, Florence’s iconic domed church is not Italy’s only Duomo. Not at all. Most large cities, as well as some smaller ones, have a church known as the Duomo among the local community.
In this article, we tell you all about Italy’s historically notable and architecturally stunning Duomos.
The term “Duomo” comes from the Italian word “duomo,” which means “principal church of a diocese with which the bishop is officially affiliated”. Some churches that are still called Duomos do not have bishops assigned to them, but they are nevertheless called Duomos because of their tradition and history.
Meanwhile, the Duomo isn’t always the most famous or beautiful church or cathedral in some cities or towns. In Assisi, the Basilica of Saint Francis eclipses the Duomo of San Rufino.
The Duomo Cathedral of Florence, also named the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, was one of the most important architectural structures in 14th-century Florence. It was the catalyst for a new era of art and engineering.
The cathedral of Florence towers over the city and showcases its spectacular Renaissance dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi. Even the baptistery is situated directly across the street. The massive Gothic cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore was built on the foundations of the 7th-century church of Santa Reparata, the crypt of which contains the remains of which can be seen.
The cathedral is in the shape of a Latin cross with a small projecting dome and bell tower and was built between 1215 and 1263 on the site of earlier construction.
The term “duomo” comes from the Italian word “duomo,” which means “principal church of a diocese with which the bishop is officially affiliated.”
Siena’s Duomo is famous for its trademark stripes on the façade and inside, as well as its beautifully decorated floor mosaics. Giovanni Pisano, the chief architect of the Siena Duomo and sculptor of the pulpit in the Pisa Duomo, is buried here.
Even if it is dominated by its leaning bell tower, widely known as the “leaning tower of Pisa,” the Duomo of Pisa is worth a visit. The remains of Saint Rainerius, Pisa’s patron saint, are housed inside, along with works by Cimabue, Andrea del Sarto, Sodoma, and Giambologna.
The Duomo of Milan, Italy’s largest cathedral, is a soaring 354 ft/108-meter structure that serves as the symbol of Lombardy’s capital city. The 16th-century sculpture of Saint Bartholomew Flayed and the tomb of Saint Charles Borromeo are notable features inside the Milan Cathedral. In the apse of the Milan Duomo is a relic of the Holy Nail.
In the front of the Cathedral of San Rufino, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Clare of Assisi, and Emperor Frederick II were all baptized. The Duomo of Assisi was built in the 12th century. It stands on the ruins of two earlier churches and, perhaps, Assisi’s Roman forum.
Stones from the Monte Subasio were used to construct the Romanesque façade. It is a typical example of the style seen in Umbrian churches from the 12th century and it is divided into three parts.
This little gem in the Umbrian hill town of Orvieto is remarkable for its external design and interior murals by Luca Signorelli. It is considered one of the most beautiful churches in the whole country. The Corporal of Bolsena, an altar cloth said to have proven the miracle of transubstantiation, was the inspiration for the construction of the Orvieto Duomo, which began in 1290. The Feast of Corpus Christi, a prominent Catholic festival that began in Orvieto, is known for its reliquary.
With a massive rose window, golden mosaics, and three spires, the cathedral’s façade is a famous piece of religious architecture, encompassing elements of design from the 14th to the 20th centuries., while inside are two frescoed chapels decorated with images of Judgment Day by some of the best Italian painters of the period.
The 16th-century dome frescoes by Correggio are the most famous feature of Parma’s cathedral. These illusionistic paintings show the Virgin Mary’s ascension into heaven from her earthly life, and they inspired numerous similar church decorations during the Baroque period.
It has long been a symbol of the city’s vibrant religious culture, as well as a monumental piece of art that has been supplemented with valuable riches over the years. Here, the fundamental character of Roman sculpture coexists with the opulence of Renaissance painting, resulting in one of the Emilia region’s most spectacular houses of worship.
This Cathedral is a masterwork and regarded as a remarkable example of Romanesque Art, whose extraordinary beauty and uniqueness astounded society at the time and continues to astonish us today.
The bones of San Geminiano, Modena’s patron saint, are housed in this 12th-century cathedral. An archivolt engraved with motifs from the legend of King Arthur and a wooden bucket seized from Bologna as booty during the 14th-century War of the Bucket are two further oddities inside the Modena Duomo. The Duomo of Modena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with the Torre Civica and Piazza Grande. This cathedral hosted the funeral of Luciano Pavarotti.
The Duomo of Amalfi is devoted to the Apostle Saint Andrew, whose remains are stored here, and is located in one of Italy’s most stunning sceneries, the Amalfi Coast. The 62-step staircase, Moorish-style arches, 11th-century bronze doors cast in Constantinople, and majolica-tiled bell tower are among its most outstanding features.
This cathedral has been remodeled several times and features predominantly Arab-Norman Romanesque architectural style.
The Assumption of Saint Mary is commemorated in the Duomo of Naples. The Cathedral of San Gennaro, however, is the name given to it since it houses the relics of the town’s patron saint. Ampoules of the saint’s blood are among Italy’s most unique relics, as they are believed to liquefy many times a year.
The cathedral also provides access to the archaeological remains in the crypt of the old palaeochristian church of Santa Restituta, which includes a Greek wall from the Apollo temple.
Following the 1693 earthquake, which damaged much of the previous Norman-era architecture, Catania’s Baroque-style cathedral was completed. Part of the transept, the two towers, and the three semicircular apses, all crafted of huge lava stones, most of which were rescued from imperial Roman buildings contain traces of the original Norman structure.
The relics of Saint Agatha are kept in the Duomo of Catania, whose feast day is celebrated with zeal every year on the 5th of February. This cathedral houses burial monuments to numerous members of the Kingdom of Sicily’s Aragon branch. Vincenzo Bellini, a composer, is also buried here.
The church was built in 1185 on the site of an ancient Byzantine basilica by Walter Ophamil, Norman archbishop of Palermo and King William II’s minister. According to all accounts, Pope Gregory I erected this earlier church, which was later converted into a mosque after the Saracens conquered the city in the 9th century. In the crypt of the church, Ophamil is buried in a sarcophagus. Only a few minor architectural components of the medieval structure, which had a basilica layout with three apses, have survived.
Due to its strategic Mediterranean location and the fact that it was developed over 600 years, Palermo’s huge Duomo is a combination of Norman, Moorish, Gothic, Baroque, and Neo-classical architectural styles. King Roger II of Sicily, Queen Constance I of Sicily, Emperor Henry VI, and Emperor Frederick II are among the many royal and imperials buried in the cathedral.
It is almost impossible to come across the word “Duomo” and not immediately think of the magnificent “Santa Maria Del Fiore”, better known as the Duomo of Florence. But, next time if you ever do plan a trip to Italy then make sure to include some of these unique and breath-taking Duomos. A decision you won’t regret.