Orvieto Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

History of the cathedral: from Pope Nicholas IV to the present day

Orvieto is a city that soars above Umbria on a volcanic plug, like a floating castle from a fairy tale. And crowning this rocky massif is one of the most impressive cathedrals in Italy — the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Construction of this grand structure began in 1290 with the laying of the foundation by Pope Nicholas IV. The construction site was set up directly on the previous, smaller cathedral, called Santa Maria de Episcopatu, which by that time was already in ruins. Construction lasted about 300 years — from the 13th to the 16th century, and the result exceeded all expectations. The cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and this dedication determined its iconography and symbolism for centuries to come.

Orvieto stands on one of the large masses of tuff thrown from a large volcanic crater, which now corresponds to Lake Bolsena. It was here, in Bolsena, that the event determining the fate of the cathedral took place. The Eucharistic miracle occurred in 1263, when a German priest making a pilgrimage to Rome witnessed during Mass at the tomb of Saint Christina how blood flowed from the bread and stained his vestments. This event led to the establishment of the Feast of Corpus Christi, and the stained cloth (corporal) was transferred to Orvieto and is kept here above the altar in a side chapel to this day.

The Golden Facade: an architectural masterpiece spanning three centuries

The facade of Orvieto Cathedral is perhaps the most photographed object in the city and a masterpiece of Italian Gothic art. Construction of the facade began around 1310 and was completed in 1532 — more than two centuries of painstaking work. There are two preparatory designs for the facade: the first, from the late 13th century — a single-cusped design attributed to Raimo di Paganello, representing the first architectural drawing of the cathedral facade; the second, from the first quarter of the 14th century — the design by Lorenzo Maitani, which determined the final appearance of the structure.

The bronze elements of the facade were originally gilded, as evidenced by the Maestà, which is now displayed in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, while its copy is on the facade. The mosaics in the upper part of the cathedral were designed by Cesare Nebbia, but the current mosaics are replicas. The facade is adorned with a large rose window, gold mosaics, and three huge bronze doors. The cathedral houses five Renaissance-era bells tuned in E-flat. All this beauty appears before the viewer as a single hymn to faith and art, created over three centuries.

Chapel of San Brizio: The Apocalypse by Signorelli's brush

The Chapel of Saint Brizio (Cappella Nova) is located in the right transept of the cathedral and houses one of the most impressive fresco cycles of the Renaissance. On April 5, 1499, Luca Signorelli signed a contract with Orvieto Cathedral, undertaking to paint the two remaining sections of the chapel ceiling. In the summer of 1447, Fra Angelico with the help of Benozzo Gozzoli and other artists had already created the frescoes of the Prophets and Christ the Judge in the triangular vaults of the ceiling.

Signorelli's frescoes (1499-1502) depict the End of the World: The Preaching of the Antichrist, the End of the World, the Resurrection of the Dead, the Damned cast into Hell, and the Elect called to Paradise. On the first lunette to the left of the chapel entrance is depicted the episode of the Preaching of the Antichrist. Eight angels hold the symbols of the Passion of Christ. The work was planned and executed in just three years — practically a unique case in the history of Italian art. Michelangelo, who visited the chapel several years later, was so impressed by Signorelli's work that he borrowed some anatomical solutions for his "Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel.

The Eucharistic Miracle: the Blood of Christ in Bolsena

The history of Orvieto Cathedral is inextricably linked with one of the most famous Eucharistic miracles in the history of Catholicism. In 1263, in Bolsena, near Orvieto, during Mass at the tomb of Saint Christina, a German priest who doubted the dogma of transubstantiation witnessed a miracle: blood began to seep from the consecrated bread and stained the corporal (the cloth on which the chalice and paten rest). This event shocked not only the priest but the entire Church.

Pope Urban IV, who was in Orvieto at the time, ordered the relic to be brought to the city. The stained cloth was placed in the cathedral, and it was this miracle that became the catalyst for the construction of a new, more grandiose cathedral worthy of housing such a relic. Today the corporal is kept in the Corporal Chapel, located to the left of the nave, and is an object of pilgrimage from around the world. The chapel itself is decorated with frescoes by Ugolino di Prete Ilario depicting the history of the miracle and other Eucharistic miracles.

Underground Orvieto: Etruscan secrets beneath the cathedral

Orvieto is not only a majestic cathedral atop a cliff, but also an entire underground city hidden beneath one's feet. The underground caves of Orvieto belong to the Etruscan civilization that inhabited the region long before the Roman Empire. The underground city is a labyrinth of Etruscan and medieval tunnels, wells, and chambers 2,500 years old. The connection with the cathedral is traced through the common Etruscan history and geology: the rock on which the city of Orvieto stands is one of the large masses of tuff thrown from a large volcanic crater.

Archaeologists have discovered in the area beneath the cliffs what they consider the famous "Fanum Voltumnae" — an ancient Etruscan sanctuary believed to be the center of Etruscan religion. Among the underground attractions are the Saint Clare Mill, which operated thanks to underground waterways, and Saint Patrick's Well, built in the 16th century to provide the city with water in case of siege. These underground spaces are a reminder that Orvieto was an important center long before the Christian era, and the cathedral built atop the cliff became merely the latest layer in the centuries-long history of this place.

What you can see on the camera

The online webcam is installed in Orvieto Cathedral and shows the interiors of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in real time. The viewer can observe the majestic naves of the cathedral, decorated with frescoes and mosaics, as well as the famous Chapel of San Brizio with frescoes by Luca Signorelli. The camera conveys the atmosphere of this place, where history and art merge over three centuries of construction. Depending on the time of day and lighting, you can see how the gold mosaics of the facade play, how light falls on the bronze doors, and how biblical scenes come to life on the chapel walls. This online camera allows you to experience the grandeur of one of the most significant monuments of Italian Gothic without leaving home.