Foligno Cathedral

Dedicated to Saint Felician: It is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Felician, the first bishop of Foligno, martyred in 251 AD. The cathedral stands on the site of his burial. * Ancient Origins: Built on the site of a previous basilica, its origins date back to the 9th-10th centuries, with a first significant renovation in 1133. * Witness to History: It has undergone numerous restorations and modifications over the centuries, reflecting the historical and artistic changes of the region. Architecture: * Double Façade: It features two distinct façades: the main, simpler one, and a second façade overlooking Piazza della Repubblica, considered a jewel of Romanesque architecture from 1201, the work of masters Rodolfo and Binello. This façade is adorned with sculptures with classical references, a portal with profiles of the sun, moon, and stars, and internal arches decorated with the signs of the zodiac. * Different Styles: The cathedral is an example of the fusion of architectural styles, from Romanesque to Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical, the result of the various phases of construction and restoration. * Neoclassical Interior: The interior was radically transformed in the Neoclassical style between 1772 and 1819 according to a project by Giuseppe Piermarini. * 16th-Century Dome: It has an elegant 16th-century dome, the work of Giuliano di Baccio D'Agnolo. * Romanesque Crypt: It preserves the crypt, the oldest part of the church, with architectural remains from the pre-Romanesque period. Art and Culture: * Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament: Noteworthy is the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, built in 1527 by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, with frescoes by Vespasiano Strada and Baldassare Croce depicting the life of Saint Felician. * Silver Statue of Saint Felician: Inside, there is a valuable silver statue of the patron saint. * Baroque Baldachin: Above the high altar stands a carved and gilded wooden baldachin from 1698, inspired by Bernini's baldachin in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. * Diocesan Capitular Museum: Adjacent to the cathedral, in the Palazzo delle Canoniche, is the Diocesan Capitular Museum which houses works of art from the cathedral and the diocese, including the recently restored crypt. * Confession of Angela of Foligno: The cathedral was the place where the Blessed Angela of Foligno made her confession to the Franciscan friar Arnaldo.