Cathedral of Catanzaro, Catholic cathedral in central Catanzaro, Italy.
The Cathedral of Catanzaro is a Catholic cathedral in the center of the city of Catanzaro, in Calabria, rising to a height of 42 m (about 138 ft). Built in a rationalist style, it is characterized by straight geometric forms and a sober, functional design.
The cathedral was founded in 1121 and was repeatedly destroyed by major earthquakes, the last of which struck in 1783. After further heavy damage from bombing in 1943, it was rebuilt in the rationalist form it has today.
The cathedral holds a collection of old silk fabrics, including the Pianeta di Borgia, a liturgical garment connected to the papacy. Visitors who step inside can see these textiles as evidence of a local craft tradition that was kept alive across many centuries.
The cathedral sits in the heart of Catanzaro and can be reached on foot from most central points in the city. As with any active place of worship, it is worth planning the visit outside of service times and dressing modestly before entering.
The current form of the cathedral is the work of two architects, Franco Domestico and Vincenzo Fasolo, who were put in charge of rebuilding it after the 1943 war damage. It is rare for a place of worship with origins going back to the 12th century to end up with such a consistent 20th-century rationalist form.
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