Duomo - Cathedral, Como

Its construction began in 1396 and it was supposed to substitute the old church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The facade was added in 1455, and the transepts were completed in the mid-18th century. The dome was designed in 1744 by Filippo Juvara (1678-1736), chief architect of many of the sumptuous palaces of the royal house of Savoy. The facade has statues of two of Como's most famous sons, Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, whose writings are among the most important documents from antiquity. Inside, the works of art include Luini's Holy Conversation, a fresco cycle by Morazzone, and the Marriage of the Virgin Mary by Ferrari.

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The construction of the cathedral begun in 1396 and it ended in 1740. As it was built during many centuries there are many different architectural styles, you can see traces of baroque, Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance styles in the church. There is a 75 metre high octagonal dome on the top. On the façade, which was built in 1457 you can see a big rose window high over the entrance and many statues. The cathedral is built of marble.

I visited the cathedral on a Sunday. When I arrived before 9.30 there was a mass going on, and when I later came back another mass was soon going to start.

The Duomo of Como is one of the most impressive and most important buildings with deep historical background and alluring beauty.
It dominates the center of the city and the main square, and it's the highlight of the town.
Evening illumination of the church is very impressive! Try to be there both in the day and night time, in both cases the Duomo is captivating!
OPEN: Daily 7am-noon and 3pm-7pm.

This building, dating from the 15th century, has a Gothic facade made in polychrome marble. The windows and the balcony are of exceptional beauty. The southern side of Broletto was destroyed to make room for the Cathedral, which was beig enlarged in the 15th century.

The Cathedral of Como and the adjacent Brolotto are the two most important sights of Como. The construction begun in 1396 on the site of the Romanesque Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and it lasted almost four centuries. Changing in styles, throughout the centuries, can be noticed at its structure, from the late Gothic of the facade, the Renaissance lines of the apse to the 18th century dome. The great dome finished in 1744 was designed by F. Juvara.

Sincerely, I didn't expect to find such a beautiful cathedral in Como. I have been to Como twice before, spending most of the time in my car driving around the lake and admiring the beauty of the landscapes.
The front of the cathedral is richly decorated by the numerous statues and rose-window in its central position which is just beautuful.

Broletto exists in many Italian medieval towns and it was intended as the headquarters of the local council. Besides the original intention, this one in Como was used as a theatre and exibition hall.
The building was erectedin 1215, flanked by the Civic tower which was rebuilt in rusticated stone in 1927.

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The single most impressive building in Como, the narrow streets of the historic centre butt closely to the walls of the Duomo, making it difficult to see the facade in its full glory. Unlike many other Italian cities there is no major piazza fronting the front - instead a row of restaurants proved an extensive (but close-up) view.

Built on the site of an earlier church, the Duomo was begun in 1396 (10 years after Milan), with the facade added in 1457. The building was completed as late as 1770 when the iconic cupola was raised. Its full name is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore.

The statues on either side of the Rose window are Pliny the Elder (author, philosopher, naval and army commander of the Roman Empire) and his nephew Pliny the Younger (lawyer and magistrate of Ancient Rome), both natives of Como.

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The interior of the Duomo is a stunning sight - marble from top to bottom with gold inlay. There are numerous stained glass windows but, reflecting the baroque period, there's also a number of plain glass windows.

Interior is predominantly Renaissance (early 15th to end of 16th centuries) but the dome over the 'crossing' was put in place in the mid-18th century.

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A Duomo is the Italian ecquivalent of a Dom-church. Como has one of the oldest ones in Italy and therefore the world. It has a splendid facade behind which a wonderful dome hides. From the Piazza (Square) in front of the church, one hardly can see the seize of the building. Then you should walk around and see the rest. More to come ...