Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como)

Cathedral in Como

Como Cattedrale Di Santa Maria Assunta Esterno Facciata
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Zairon

The Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como), dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is reputedly the last Gothic cathedral built in Italy. It dominates the expansive Piazza Duomo in the heart of Como City. Though primarily Gothic, the cathedral also features elements of Romanesque, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles.

Construction began in 1396 under the direction of architect Lorenzo degli Spazzi, replacing an earlier Romanesque church that was demolished to make way for the new structure. The impressive facade, completed in the latter half of the 15th century, showcases both Gothic and Renaissance influences. The cathedral’s construction was finally completed in 1770, with the addition of the dome by architect Filippo Juvarra.

The facade includes a striking rose window above the central portal. Statues of Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, notable natives of Como, are housed in glass-enclosed niches on either side of the entrance to protect them from pollution.

The cathedral, measuring 286 feet in length and 246 feet in width, follows a Latin Cross plan with three naves and a Renaissance-style transept crowned by a magnificent dome. Sculptural details on the facade combine Gothic and Renaissance styles, including two tondos above the portal depicting Adam and Eve. Near the rose window stands a statue of God, surrounded by figures representing the Archangel Gabriel, the Virgin Mary, and the Resurrection.

Inside, notable artworks include paintings of Saint Sebastian, Saint Christopher, and the Adoration of the Shepherds by Bernardino Luini, as well as the Marriage of the Virgin by Gaudenzio Ferrari. The cathedral was further adorned with tapestries from Florence, Ferrara, and Antwerp during the 16th and 17th centuries.

The cathedral’s north entrance is known as the “Door of the Frog,” named after a sculpture from 1400 depicting a frog catching a butterfly. According to local legend, touching the frog brings good luck. The story goes that Lake Como once flooded the town, but the water stopped at the level of the frog, leading the people of Como to believe that the frog saved their city.

The Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Como!

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Visiting Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como)

Hours:

Weekdays from 10.30am to 5.00pm, and holidays from 13.00pm to 4.30pm.


Price:

Free

Address: Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta - Duomo di Como, Piazza del Duomo, Como, Province of Como, Italy
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