Duomo di Ferrara
Duomo di Ferrara – The Duomo di Ferrara, officially the Cattedrale di San Giorgio Martire (Cathedral of Saint George the Martyr), is the principal church of Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, and a masterpiece of Romanesque-Gothic architecture. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, the cathedral features a magnificent three-tiered facade combining Romanesque and Gothic elements, with elaborate sculptural decoration attributed to the workshop of Nicholaus and Wiligelmo. The upper portion displays elegant Gothic loggias and arcades, while the lower section features a splendid portal with a Last Judgment scene. The interior, remodeled in the 18th century in Baroque style, houses important works including Cosmè Tura’s organ shutters depicting the Annunciation and St. George, Guercino’s Martyrdom of St. Lawrence, and sculptures by various masters. The cathedral museum (Museo della Cattedrale) contains additional treasures including the Madonna della Melagrana by Jacopo della Quercia. The Duomo di Ferrara is particularly celebrated for its exceptional Romanesque-Gothic facade with the Last Judgment portal sculptures; Cosmè Tura’s Renaissance masterpieces on the organ shutters; and its harmonious integration of medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque artistic periods.
