San Lorenzo Cathedral (Viterbo)

The San Lorenzo Cathedral

The Cathedral of San Lorenzo (San Lorenzo Martire), also known as the Cathedral (Duomo), is the episcopal church of the diocese of Viterbo in the Italian region of Lazio and the most important church building in the city of Viterbo . It is dedicated to the martyr and patron saint Lawrence of Rome .

Building history

Viterbo Cathedral in the 12th and 13th centuries (reconstruction, from A. Scriattoli: Viterbo nei suoi Monumenti , Rome 1915)

The church was probably built by Lombard artists in the 12th century over the remains of an ancient temple of Hercules . In 1181 she consecrated Pope Alexander III. as the main church of the city before it became the episcopal church in 1192. In the same year the transept was added. The bell tower dates from the 13th century. Cardinal Gianfrancesco Gambara had the facade added in 1560–1570. In 1793 the sacristy was built. After being destroyed in the Second World War, the interior was re-romanized.

During the time when the Popes resided in Viterbo in the 13th century, the cathedral was the center of the Catholic Church. During this time, seven popes were enthroned here.

Exterior

Together with the Papal Palace , the church building defines the cityscape of Viterbo. The Romanesque bell tower with four floors and a two-tone stone facade is reminiscent of the cathedral of Siena . The cathedral square corresponds to the Etruscan acropolis of Viterbo.

Interior

inner space

The three-aisled basilica was built on the model of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome . The prevailing impression is that of the 12th century. The three naves end in semicircular apses . The arcades of the central nave rest on 20 monolithic columns with original figure capitals.

In the left side apse is the tomb for Pope John XXI. In the second side chapel on the right is the tomb of Letitia Bonaparte , the niece of Napoleon Bonaparte .

The tomb of Alexander IV that was in the cathedral has disappeared.

organ

The organ is located on the two galleries in the transept . The instrument was built in 1965 by the organ building company Zenoni (Pescara) and restored and expanded in 2005 by the organ building company Maggiora (Milan). It has 36 stops on three manuals and a pedal. The playing and stop actions are electric.

I Grand'Organo Cc 4 Principals 16 ′ Principals 8th' Dulciana 8th' Flauto traverso 8th' Unda Maris 8th' Ottava 4 ′ Flauto 4 ′ Decimaseconda 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′ Decimaquinta 2 ′ Ripieno VI Cornetto II Tromba 8th'

II Positivo Espressivo Cc 4 Principalino 8th' Bordone 8th' Gamba 8th' Concerto Viole 8th' Ottava 4 ′ Flauto armonico 4 ′ Flauto in XII 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′ Pienino V Clarinetto 8th' tremolo

III Organo Espressivo Cc 4 Eufonio 8th' Corno di Notte 8th' Eolina 8th' Flauto ottavinante 4 ′ Flautino 2 ′ Oboe dolce 8th' tremolo

Pedals Cg 1 Contrabbasso 16 ′ Subbasso 16 ′ Basso Armonico 8th' violoncello 8th' Bordone 8th' Flauto armonico 4 ′ Trombones 16 ′ Fagotto 8th' Clarone 4 ′

Others

In 1964, some scenes from the film The Death Rays of Dr. Mabuse turned.

literature

• Christof Henning: Latium. The land around Rome. With walks in the Eternal City. 3rd updated edition. DuMont, Cologne 2006, ISBN 3-7701-6031-2 ( Dumont art travel guide ).
• Anton Henze: Art Guide Rome and Latium. Philipp Reclam GmbH, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-15-010402-5 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Viterbo's homepage for the Cathedral of San Lorenzo ( memento of the original from November 25, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
2. ↑ Information about the organ (Italian)

Web links

Commons : San Lorenzo Cathedral, Viterbo  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 42 ° 24 ′ 55 ″  N , 12 ° 6 ′ 3 ″  E