Como Cathedral, Como, Italy

Como Cathedral is one of the most important buildings in the region. It is commonly described as the last Gothic cathedral built in Italy: construction on it, on the site of the earlier Romanesque cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria Maggiore, began in 1396, 10 years after the foundation of Milan Cathedral. The construction works, started under the supervision of Lorenzo degli Spazzi di Laino, did not finish until 1770 with the completion of the Rococo cupola by Filippo Juvarra. The imposing west front was built between 1457 and 1498 and features a rose window and a portal between two statues of Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, natives of Como.

It is 87 metres long, from 36 to 56 metres wide, and 75 metres high into the top of the cupola. It has a Latin Cross floor plan with a central nave and two side aisles, separated by pillars, and a Renaissance transept, with an imposing cupola over the crossing. The apses and the choir are of the 16th century. The interior has some important tapestries, and others of the 16th and 17th centuries, made in Ferrara, Florence and Antwerp. There are also a number of 16th-century paintings by Bernardino Luini and Gaudenzio Ferrari.

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User Reviews

Pietari Paloheimo (12 months ago)
Incredibly beautiful old Duomo. Sit in awe of The magnitude of this amazing structure. Everytime I'm in Como, I've spent a few moments in peace here. The glory of The olen days. Woozaa. Remember to touch The lucky frog on your way out.

sufi chomwl (12 months ago)
much bigger on the inside. Amazing tapestries, sculptures and history inside. surprisingly very brutal and calm. You always get great views of Milan from the roof too. It is always worth a visit, especially as renovation work is continuing. a must visit place in como!

Elena Stanculescu (13 months ago)
Beautiful cathedral in Como, in a good location. My husband and I ate at the restaurant in front of it, at evening, and we really enjoyed the tranquility of the place and the view.

Andrea Larcan (2 years ago)
Beautiful church in the heart of Como. The facade looks rather simple, but it is still magnificent. The interiors are well made, even if not too crowded. There is even a part of the church dedicated for people who want to think and pray. Definitely a nice stop if you are in town.

Gediminas Lipnickas (2 years ago)
It's an amazing marvel of engineering, steeped in rich history. It's amazing what they achieved. Paintings, stained glass, architectures, it's all wonderful. You always get great views of Milan from the roof too. It is always worth a visit, especially as renovation work is continuing. Grab tickets online and skip the queues. Book an hour in advance and check out the surrounding shops before you go in.

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