Orvieto Cathedral

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Cathedral of Orvieto, Italy

Maitani, Lorenzo: Orvieto Cathedral facade

Side view of Orvieto Cathedral, constructed and decorated by Lorenzo Maitani.

Orvieto Cathedral

Interior of Orvieto Cathedral, constructed and decorated by Lorenzo Maitani.

Orvieto Cathedral

cathedral, Orvieto, Italy

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July 1, 2026

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Cathedral of Orvieto, Italy

Orvieto Cathedral is a celebrated Gothic cathedral located in Orvieto, Italy. Construction began in 1290, inspired by the miracle at Bolsena. Its facade is a polychrome marble monument with intricate sculptures, and the interior features frescoes by notable artists like Luca Signorelli and Fra Angelico.1

While Italian Gothic architecture developed later than in northern Europe and often incorporated local materials like brick and marble, Orvieto Cathedral showcases this distinct style. It was built alongside other significant Italian churches like Siena Cathedral, which also features Gothic elements and rich artistic decoration.23

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Lorenzo Maitani
…decoration of the facade of Orvieto Cathedral.
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…decoration of the facade of Orvieto Cathedral.
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Orvieto
Orvieto’s Gothic cathedral, which is one of the most celebrated in Italy, was begun in 1290 to commemorate the miracle at Bolsena, a town situated just to the southwest, where in 1263 a priest witnessed the miraculous appearance of drops of blood on a Host…
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Orvieto’s Gothic cathedral, which is one of the most celebrated in Italy, was begun in 1290 to commemorate the miracle at Bolsena, a town situated just to the southwest, where in 1263 a priest witnessed the miraculous appearance of drops of blood on a Host…
Read More

Western sculpture
Italian Gothic
…workshop of the facade of Orvieto cathedral and the work of the sculptor and architect Andrea Pisano (no relation to Nicola and Giovanni) are less clearly connected with the Pisano tradition. The facade of Orvieto was designed by the Sienese Lorenzo Maitani c. 1310. The sculptural decoration is in varying…
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…workshop of the facade of Orvieto cathedral and the work of the sculptor and architect Andrea Pisano (no relation to Nicola and Giovanni) are less clearly connected with the Pisano tradition. The facade of Orvieto was designed by the Sienese Lorenzo Maitani c. 1310. The sculptural decoration is in varying…
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Western architecture
Italian Gothic (c. 1200–1400)
…with Romanesque characteristics, such as Orvieto Cathedral (begun 1290), were still being built at the end of the 13th century. The Italians, however, were not unaware of what, by French standards, a great church ought to look like. There is a sprinkling of churches belonging to the first third of…
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…with Romanesque characteristics, such as Orvieto Cathedral (begun 1290), were still being built at the end of the 13th century. The Italians, however, were not unaware of what, by French standards, a great church ought to look like. There is a sprinkling of churches belonging to the first third of…
Read More