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Cathedral · Módena, Emília-Romanha
Duomo di Modena
Romanesque cathedral begun in 1099 by the architect Lanfranco, with reliefs by the sculptor Wiligelmo on the façade. In the crypt are the relics of San Geminiano, the city's patron saint.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Duomo di Modena
The Duomo di Modena, officially Cattedrale di San Geminiano, is considered one of the masterpieces of European Romanesque. Construction began in 1099 with a design by the architect Lanfranco, on the site where two churches once stood over the tomb of San Geminiano, a 4th-century bishop and the city's patron saint.
On the façade, Wiligelmo's reliefs tell stories from Genesis, from the creation of Adam and Eve to Noah. They date from the early 12th century and rank among the most important sculptures of the period in Italy. On the north side, the Porta della Pescheria has on its arch a scene with knights that scholars link to the legends of King Arthur.
Inside, the church is of brick, with a presbytery raised above the crypt. The tribune-bridge separating the nave from the presbytery has reliefs of the Passion of Christ made by sculptors from Campione. In the crypt, the relics of San Geminiano are housed in a stone urn; the sarcophagus is opened to devotion every 31 January, the saint's day.
The Duomo, the Torre Ghirlandina and the Piazza Grande were inscribed together on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997. Beside the cathedral, the Musei del Duomo gather treasury pieces and the Metopes, reliefs that once stood on the roof ridge.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Allow 40 minutes to 1 hour for the cathedral and the crypt. Add 30 minutes for the Musei del Duomo.
Best time
In the morning, outside mass times. Tourist visits are suspended during religious services; check the schedule before going.
How to get there
It lies between the Piazza Grande and the Piazza della Torre, about a 15-minute walk from Módena station along Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the Via Emilia.
Tip
Shoulders and knees covered. Walk all the way around the exterior before entering: the side doors and apses have sculptures as interesting as those on the façade. Entry to the cathedral is free.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Duomo di Modena
Is there an entrance fee for the Duomo?
No. The Musei del Duomo next door charge an entrance fee.
Who was Wiligelmo?
The sculptor who made the façade reliefs in the early 12th century, depicting scenes from the Genesis. His name appears in an inscription on the façade itself.
Why is the Duomo a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Together with the Ghirlandina and Piazza Grande, it is considered an outstanding example of Romanesque art, combining architecture and sculpture in a work by Lanfranco and Wiligelmo.