The construction of the first church on the site of Capua Cathedral is traditionally attributed to Landulfo, Bishop of Capua, in 856, using spolia columns from the local amphitheatre or other churches, but it was rebuilt in the 10th century and again, under Archbishop Erveo, towards the end of the 11th century, with subsequent major works. The bell-tower has Lombard and Norman influences.
The entire church was destroyed by bombardment on 9 September 1943. It was rebuilt between 1949 and 1957. The Diocesan Museum was installed in a chapel here in 1992.
Among the paintings in the church are works by Domenico Vaccaro. Some of the frescoes recall past works including the frescoes in the presbytery depicting Eucharistic scenes (1961). The main altarpiece is of the Assumption of the Virgin by Francesco Solimena. In the nave are the columns by Archbishop Erveo (1073-1088) and a font from archbishop Cesare Costa (1572-1602). The crypt has a painting depicting a Dead Christ by Matteo Bottiglieri, an Addolorata by the school of Canova, and a Roman sarcophagus.
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.