Discover The Orvieto Cathedral, An Architectural Masterpiece Nestled In The Heart Of Italy

Discover The Orvieto Cathedral, An Architectural Masterpiece Nestled In The Heart Of Italy
Giuseppe
Giuseppe 
Updated
| 3 min read

Located between Rome and Perugia, Orvieto is a little village in Umbria, Italy. Although Orvieto is a very little village, thanks to its location, it often assumed a relevant political role in Central Italy history. Orvieto is a beautiful medieval hamlet full of relevant art pieces nestled in an untouched naturalistic area full of woods and lakes to enjoy. The greatest treasure is its Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece which has been a remarkable example for the whole Italian Gothic architectural style and receives hundreds of visitors every day.

Admire the astonishing Orvieto Cathedral facade, one of the greatest examples of Italian Gothic architectural style

discover the orvieto cathedral, an architectural masterpiece nestled in the heart of italy | admire the astonishing orvieto cathedral facade, one of the greatest examples of italian gothic architectural style

Unfortunately, as you can see in the picture the Orvieto Cathedral facade was under restorative measures during my tour in Orvieto. You can still admire the effort that numerous artists put throughout the centuries in every little detail. You can enjoy its magniloquent shape, the rose window, the mosaics, the bas-reliefs, the high steeples and the complex of statues.

The facade was started at the end of XIII century and was finished around the XVI century. In the golden frontage of the Cathedral you can admire the bas-reliefs and the statues representing the symbols of the Four Evangelists, in Christian tradition they are the authors of the gospels of the New Testament: the Angel symbolizes Matthew, the Ox symbolizes Luke, the Lion symbolizes Mark and the Eagle symbolizes John. Above the statues there are the mosaics representing scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.

Learn some stories of the Old Testament just looking at these beautiful bas-reliefs

discover the orvieto cathedral, an architectural masterpiece nestled in the heart of italy | learn some stories of the old testament just looking at these beautiful bas-reliefs

The facade retail that you can see in the picture shows two of the four bas-reliefs about stories from the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Book of Revelation.

The opulence of details and the bravura of the artists make these bas-reliefs as readable as a book. You can stay in front of this masterpiece nestled in a complex of statues, columns and mosaics and try to follow the Old Testament stories.

The first on the left represents some stories from the Book of Genesis, the second on the right represents the Tree of Jesse with scenes from the Old Testament. The third and the fourth that you can find on the right of the main entrance are episodes from the lives of Jesus and Mary and the Last Judgment from the Book of Revelation.

Let’s go inside and find out more paintings and sculptures by the most important artists of Italy.

Enter this wide and spacious Cathedral full of remarkable paintings and sculptures

discover the orvieto cathedral, an architectural masterpiece nestled in the heart of italy | enter this wide and spacious cathedral full of remarkable paintings and sculptures

The wide interior is decorated with alternating stripes of basalt and travertine in the style of most of the Central Italian Cathedral. As you can see in the picture the apse is a masterpiece of the Italian Gothic style made by the best artists of that time.

Located in the center, you will find a large stained-glass quadrifore window of 1328 and paintings all around representing scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. You will often see paintings and mosaics representing the Virgin Mary because the Orvieto Cathedral is devoted to her.

To the right and left of this great apse you will find the treasures of the Orvieto Cathedral: the Chapel of the Corporal and The Chapel of the Madonna di San Brizio.

Enjoy the brightness of the golden Chapel of the Corporal

discover the orvieto cathedral, an architectural masterpiece nestled in the heart of italy | enjoy the brightness of the golden chapel of the corporal

Behind a wrought iron gate, you will find the beautiful Chapel of the Corporal. This chapel made around the the XIV century contains the corporal of the Bolsena miracle.

A corporal is a square linen cloth where are put the utensils used for the Eucharist during the Catholic Mass. According to the Roman Catholic Church in 1263 in Bolsena (Italy), a consecrated host bled onto the corporal. This event is named transubstantiation, the doctrine that states the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.

The whole chapel is decorated with paintings about the history of Eucharist and miracles concerning the transubstantiation through the Roman Catholic Church history. You can also find a niche with a painting in the Italian Byzantine style of the Madonna dei Raccomandati.

Admire the opulence of the Chapel of the Madonna di San Brizio

admire the opulence of the chapel of the madonna di san brizio

The Chapel of the Madonna di San Brizio is a triumph of art, rich in frescoes and paintings.

In the centre of the Chapel you can easily notice the late-baroque altar of the Gloria in which stands a panel of the Madonna della Tavola made by an anonymous artist around the XIII century. Along the walls you can admire a beautiful complex of frescoes made by several artists during the XVI century representing scenes concerning the Apocalypse and the Last Judgment. The picture above shows a Pietà (scene of the death of Christ) where next to Christ stands the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, and two important martyr saints from Orvieto.

Get a piece of history in Orvieto!

If you like art and history don’t miss this astonishing place located in one of the most beautiful area of Italy. The Orvieto Cathedral is a precious treasure nestled in a enjoyable area where you can live a lot of different experiences. In Orvieto you will find many different churches, tombs, monuments and an Etruscan archaeological area.

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Meet Giuseppe, an Italian musician and avid traveler. Born in Sicily, he soaked in the rich history and breathtaking landscapes before moving to Rome at 17 to pursue Jazz music studies, culminating...Read more

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