Modena Cathedral, Romanesque cathedral in Modena, Italy
Modena Cathedral is a Romanesque place of worship in the city center with a light marble front and three naves inside. The walls are covered with relief-like stonework depicting biblical episodes and separated by thick columns.
Construction started at the end of the 11th century under the direction of architect Lanfranco, who used stones from Roman ruins of the ancient settlement Mutina. Over the following decades the building was expanded and decorated with sculptures by stonemason Wiligelmo.
The entrance on the north side shows carved figures from medieval tales that one can look at directly on the stone frame. These motifs come from stories about King Arthur and his knights, which is unusual for a church of that period.
One can visit the interior daily, with the crypt below the raised altar area being especially well preserved. For details about the stone reliefs a tour with a local guide is recommended, as many scenes are hard to interpret.
The outer walls contain fragments of Roman buildings from antiquity that one can recognize on close inspection. This reuse of old materials was scientifically confirmed during examinations in 2006.
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