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The Cathedral of Naples (also known as the Duomo) is the main church in Naples, Italy. The church was began as a Gothic church in 1315 but over the years, many changes have taken place. The church was commissioned by King Charles I of Anjou and was completed during the reign of Robert of Anjou. The church was built on the remains of two palaeo-Christian cathedrals, one of which, the Basilica of St. Restituta, is still accessible. The church is dedicated to San Gennaro, the city's patron, and holds a vial of the Saint's blood in the Chapel of San Gennaro. The blood is brought out twice a year (the first Saturday in May and the 19th of September) and usually liquefies. If the blood does not liquefy, according to legend, something bad will happen in Naples. Also in the Chapel of San Gennaro are several pieces of artwork including frescoes by Domenichino and Giovanni Lanfranco, altarpieces by Domenichino, Massimo Stanzione, and Jusepe Ribera, and bronze railing by Cosimo Fanzago. Amy Altman
If you don't believe that the Duomo di Milano is one of the world's largest churches, try going up on the roof! Offering awesome views of the Piazza del Duomo and panoramic views of Milan, the roofline is one of the most impressive places to experience the city. Visitors will encounter forests of spires along with masterful statuary that is otherwise unseen from the ground. The church also bears an octagonal cupola from the 1500's and the Madonnina spire capped with a statue of the Madonna at 108 meters high. On sunny days visitors are even rewarded with sights of the Italian Alps! The roof of the Duomo is open from 7:00-19:00 daily and the current fee is 3.50 Euro.
Greg Scarmo
The Duomo, located in the Piazza del Duomo (also known as the Campo dei Miracoli) in Pisa, stands in the middle of the square between the Leaning Tower and the Baptistery. It is a medieval cathedral dedicated to St. Mary. The cathedral was begun in 1064 by the architect Buscheto. The facade is made of grey marble and white stone with small amounts of colored marble. The large bronze doors at the front of the cathedral were made by Giambologna. The real entrance to the cathedral is from the rear through Bonanno Pisano's doors that were made in 1180. The interior features black and white marble with a gilded ceiling and a dome filled with frescoes. After the fire in 1595, most of cathedral had to be redecorated. Hanging from the ceiling of the nave is a large incense lamp. Galileo supposedly developed his theory about the movement of a pendulum by watching the lamp swing back and forth. The church contains the body of St. Ranieri (the patron saint of Pisa) as well as the tomb of the Roman Emperor, Henry VII. Like its neighbor the Leaning Tower, the Duomo is also at a slight tilt.
Amy Altman
