Cathedral of Saint Clement

The Cathedral of Saint Clement is a Renaissance cathedral in Velletri featuring a grand wooden ceiling decorated with geometric patterns and papal symbols designed by Carlo Stefano Fontana. The building combines religious spaces with decorative elements from different architectural periods.

The building rests on foundations of a basilica from the 5th century and developed through multiple construction phases in different architectural styles. The Renaissance redesign brought the current form with the distinctive ceiling patterns.

The interior displays numerous marble decorations and a mosaic floor made with stones from different Mediterranean sources gathered over the centuries. As you walk through the space, you can observe how these materials have been carefully arranged to create a distinctive appearance.

Visitors should follow entrance times and wear appropriate clothing when entering this religious site. The interior is easily accessible with sufficient space to explore the different areas at your own pace.

Inside the building is a baptismal font approximately four meters across that was used during papal ceremonies. The structure also houses an 8th century fresco of the Virgin Mary that visitors often overlook.