Cesena Cathedral

Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
Façade of Duomo di Cesena.
Basic information
Location	Cesena, Italy
Geographic coordinates	Coordinates: 44°08′14.87″N 12°14′43.09″E / 44.1374639°N 12.2453028°E / 44.1374639; 12.2453028
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Architectural description
Architect(s)	Undervaldo
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Romanesque-gothic
Groundbreaking	1385
Completed	1404 ca.

Cesena Cathedral was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and was founded by the papal bull of Pope Urban VI in 1378. The works started in 1385 paid for by the generosity of Andrea Malatesta, the lord of the city. It was completed around the year 1405. The construction in attributed to the Undervaldo (probably Swiss) and in Roman-gothic style.

The Campanile (bell tower) was built between 1443 and 1457 on design by the Maso di Pietro and funded by Bishop Antonio Malatesta da Fossombrone (head of the Diocese of Cesena from 1435 to 1475).

The same Bishop Malatesta was responsible for the building of the Bishop's Palace adjoining the Cathedral but was completed by his successor Giovanni Venturelli (1475-1486).

After the radical rebuilding of the 1960s the only surviving original part in what remains of the door on the easterner side. Also dating from the Renaissance period is the Oratorio di San Tobia (Oratory of Saint Tobias) standing next to the Cathedral. However, the old hospital of the same name which gave assistance to pilgrims no longer exists.

The façade of the cathedral was completed only at the end of the 15th century with works attributed to the Venetian architect Mauro Coducci (1440-1504).

The mortal remains of Saint Mauro are kept inside together with one the greatest sculptures of Cesena produced between 1494 and 1505 by the Lombard sculptor Giovanni Battista Bregno da Osteno, the Altar of Saint John.

Fresco of Corrado Giaquinto.

Inside the cathedral a small but important painting on copper plate by the mannerist Livio Agresti depicting Saint John has been returned. In the Cappella della Madonna del Popolo (Chapel of the Madonna del Popolo) there are beautiful frescoes by Corrado Giaquinto dating from 1750.

External links

• (Italian) Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist

Coordinates: 44°08′14.87″N 12°14′43.09″E / 44.1374639°N 12.2453028°E / 44.1374639; 12.2453028