Placed on the Northern side of Piazza del Popolo, Todi Cathedral represents ideally the heart of the city. With a bell tower standing out on the right of the facade, the Cathedral rises above the town roofs and represents, together with the three public buildings, the perfect outline of one among the most beautiful and stylistically consistent urban-architectural compositions in Italy.
The modern structure was built on the remains of an ancient Roman temple, the Capitolium which used to separate the forum from the urban neighbourhoods behind. Behind the Cathedral some remains of an ancient Roman villa were rediscovered, with a mosaic floor and some blocks of the old walls. The significant name of the neighbourhood, “Nidola” or “Nido dell’aquila” (Eagle Nest) still resounds with the cry of the legendary bird of prey, the founder of the town building its nest in these areas.
Building works of the Cathedral started in the 12th century. The structure was changed and enlarged several times, until the 17th century. Currently, only the apse remains of the Comancine masters’ original plan.
Twenty-nine travertine steps compose the monumental staircase achieved by Bishop Giuseppe Pianetti in 1740: a suggestive, essential facade with a Lombard style cornice stands out on top.
Three entrance gates correspond to the three internal aisles. A rich oak wood decoration stands out on the central gate. The ornament recalls the motifs of the Orvieto Cathedral, achieved by masters Bencivenga da Mercatello (the four top panels) e Carlo Lorenti (the six low panels).
On top of the facade, crowning the monumental entrance, the beautiful central rose window stands out. It was started at the time of Bishop Basilio Moscardi (1515) and finished under the Episcopate of his successor (1523).
The plan of the building is Latin cross-shaped and the area, inside, is structured in three aisles separated one another by ten wonderful Corinthian columns with acanthus leaves, supporting the wooden roof truss.
Right behind the visitor, throughout the wall around the central rose window, the beautiful “Giudizio Universale” (Last Judgement) fresco by Ferraú da Faenza in 1596 according to Michelangelo’s pattern, stands out.
Finally, other noteworthy artworks of different kinds are shielded inside the building: the two paintings attributed to lo Spagna portraying the Trinità (Trinity) and Sts. Pietro and Paolo (Peter and Paul), the beautiful Crocifisso (Crucifix) dated 13th century, suspended above the altar and a Giannicola di Paolo’s work portraying the Madonna col Bambino e Santi (Virgin with Child and Saints).
From the left aisle you can reach the crypt of the Cathedral, where three stone sculptures are enshrined. They are part of the facade and attributed to sculptors Giovanni Pisano and Rubeus.