Duomo di Genova
Duomo di Genova – The Duomo di Genova, officially the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo (Cathedral of Saint Lawrence), is the principal church of Genoa and the seat of the Archbishop of Genoa. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, the cathedral is a magnificent example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture with its distinctive black and white striped marble facade, characteristic of Genoese religious buildings. The facade features three elaborate portals with sculpted decoration, a large rose window, and two bell towers of different heights. The interior, which underwent significant baroque modifications, houses important works of art including frescoes, sculptures, and the Museo del Tesoro (Treasury Museum) containing extraordinary relics and precious objects, including the Sacro Catino (a green glass bowl once believed to be the Holy Grail) and the silver casket said to contain the ashes of Saint John the Baptist. The cathedral is particularly renowned for its striped marble facade in alternating bands of black and white; the Chapel of St. John the Baptist with elaborate Renaissance sculptures and the reliquary of the saint; and the Treasury Museum with its exceptional collection of medieval and Renaissance goldwork and reliquaries, considered one of the richest cathedral treasuries in Europe.
