Duomo di Padova
Duomo di Padova – The Duomo di Padova, officially the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption), is the principal church of Padua, Veneto, and the seat of the Bishop of Padua. The current cathedral was designed by Andrea della Valle and Agostino Righetto and built between 1552 and 1754, replacing an earlier Romanesque cathedral. The building features a Renaissance design with an unfinished brick facade and a grand dome. Adjacent to the cathedral stands the Romanesque Baptistery, dating from the 12th century, which contains one of the masterpieces of 14th-century Italian fresco painting: Giusto de‘ Menabuoi’s extraordinary fresco cycle covering the walls and dome, depicting scenes from Genesis, the Life of Christ, and the Apocalypse. The cathedral interior houses works by various artists including paintings and sculptures from the Venetian school. The Duomo di Padova is particularly celebrated for the adjacent Baptistery with Giusto de‘ Menabuoi’s spectacular fresco cycle (1375-1378), considered one of the supreme achievements of Trecento painting; its Renaissance architectural design; and its location in Padua’s historic religious center near the Palazzo Vescovile (Bishop’s Palace).
