Duomo di Piacenza

Piacenza Cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and Santa Giustina, is a major Romanesque church of the Po Valley. Its sandstone and pink marble facade, sculpted portals and Baroque dome paintings mark distinct chapters in its history.

Why it matters

An inscription records the beginning of construction in 1122, and the medieval campaign continued into the thirteenth century. Reliefs depicting trade guilds recall the contribution of the city's working communities to the building.

What to notice

Three portals articulate the facade, with sculpture associated with the traditions of Wiligelmo and Nicolò. Massive internal supports carry the Latin-cross church, while the crypt has a dense arrangement of columns and preserves the relics of Santa Giustina. Above the crossing, Morazzone's prophets form part of the dome cycle continued by Guercino in 1626–1627, with further prophets, Sibyls and scenes from Christ's childhood.

Context and history

The cathedral followed an earlier church associated with Santa Giustina. The bell tower was completed in 1333 and received the gilded copper angel known as the Angil dal Dom in 1341. Camillo Guidotti's restoration of 1894–1902 added another important intervention, making the present building the result of medieval construction and later reinterpretation.