Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Art museum in Orvieto, Italy.
The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo occupies the second floor of Palazzo Soliano and the Papal Palaces, displaying documents that trace the cathedral's construction phases. Its rooms contain architectural drawings, work records, and material studies that illustrate the technical complexity of the medieval building project.
The museum was established in 1891 to preserve artifacts and documents gathered by the Fabbriceria organization over eight centuries of cathedral work. Its creation represented a turning point when these accumulated records and objects became accessible to the public.
The Stanza delle Meraviglie displays works by Italian masters including Simone Martini and Arnolfo di Cambio, showing how these artists shaped the region's religious traditions. The collection reflects the central role of skilled craftspeople in building and decorating the cathedral over centuries.
The building is wheelchair accessible, allowing all visitors to move through the rooms comfortably. The museum operates most days but closes periodically for maintenance and exhibition upkeep, so an early visit is worthwhile to avoid disappointment.
The ground floor gallery holds fragments of frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries created by local workshops, offering rare glimpses into historical artistic production. These pieces reveal how artists and craftspeople worked side by side over generations.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
