Italy has a dizzying number of majestic cathedrals, many of them with spectacular works of art inside. A cathedral is the main church in a city and is generally called a duomo. But it can also be called a basilica , cattedrale or chiesa madre (mainly in the south). While most cathedrals do not charge admission, there are a few that do, and almost every cathedral and minor church in Italy has a place for donations.
While you may not get to all of these Italian cities on your tour of the peninsula, lovers of history, art, and architecture will find cathedrals reason enough to go. Here are our picks for the best cathedrals to see in Italy.
St. Peter’s Basilica – Vatican City (Rome)
Direction
Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City, Ciudad del VaticanoGet directions
Telephone
+39 06 6982
Web
Visit the website
We’ll start with a disclaimer: St. Peter’s Basilica is not located in Italy. People tend to think of St. Peter as a cathedral of Rome, but it is actually within Vatican City, a small country completely contained within the city limits of Rome. It is the seat of the Pope and Catholicism. Of course, you wouldn’t think about visiting Rome and not visiting St. Peter’s, particularly if you’ve never seen it before, so we’ve included it on this list.
See our complete guide to visiting St. Peter’s Basilica.
Duomo of Florence – Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Direction
Piazza del Duomo , 50122 Florence FI , ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 055 230 2885
Web
Visit the website
Florence’s Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore , generally known as il duomo , is probably the most famous cathedral in Italy. Brunelleschi’s Dome was a masterpiece of construction and its interior is covered in frescoes. You can climb to the top of the Dome to get good views. The exterior of the cathedral is made of pink, white and green marble with 44 magnificent stained glass windows. Entrance to the Duomo is free, but there are charges to visit the crypt, the dome, and other affiliated sites.
Catedral de Milán – Milan Cathedral
Direction
Piazza del Duomo , 20122 Milan MI , ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 02 7202 3375
Web
Visit the website
They took almost 600 years to complete, and today Milan Cathedral remains the largest Gothic cathedral in Italy and one of the largest churches in Europe. It is one of my favorites for the amazing rooftop tour, where you will see not only great views of the city, but also get a closer look at some of the 135 towers and 3,200 statues that adorn the cathedral. The cathedral also has beautiful stained glass windows, several impressive sarcophagi, and two large organs. Admission is free, but there is a charge to visit the rooftop and the archaeological area.
See our complete Milan travel guide.
Venice – San Marco Basilica
Direction
Piazza S. Marco, 2 , 20121 Milan MI , ItalyGet directions
St. Mark’s Basilica, the cathedral of Venice, is a mix of Byzantine and Western styles. Named after Venice’s patron saint, Saint Mark, the cathedral’s impressive mosaic-covered domes are a focal point of Saint Mark’s Square. Byzantine mosaics, mainly from the 11th-13th centuries, and paintings by the best Venetian artists that adorn the interior. Admission is free, but there are charges for accessing various parts of the basilica complex.
See our complete guide to St. Mark’s Basilica and our Venice Travel Guide.
Catedral de Siena – Siena Cathedral
Direction
Piazza del Duomo, 8 , 53100 Siena SI , ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 0577 286300
Web
Visit the website
The Duomo of Siena from the 13th century is one of the main Gothic cathedrals in Italy. Its black and white facade is decorated with intricate sculptures and statues, while inside there are many works of art including beautiful frescoes and mosaics on the floor. Artists whose works you will see include Michelangelo, Pisano, Donatello, and Pinturicchio. Most spectacular are the impressive marble mosaics dating from the 14th-16th centuries. Entrance to the duomo starts at around € 8, and then increases depending on how many of the complex sites you want to visit. The crypt and baptistery are very interesting, and the Tour Gate of Heaven, on the upper levels of the duomo, is spectacular.
See our complete Siena travel guide.
Orvieto cathedral
Direction
Piazza del Duomo, 26 , 05018 Orvieto TR , ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 0763 341167
Web
Visit the website
Orvieto’s medieval cathedral is known for its gleaming mosaic-covered façade and is one of Italy’s finest Romanesque-Gothic masterpieces. Also noteworthy are the large bronze doors, statues that adorn the exterior and two interior chapels with beautiful frescoes. The cathedral is also impressive due to its location, sitting on a tuff ridge.
Check out our Orvieto travel guide.
Modena
Direction
Corso Duomo , 41121 Módena MO , ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 059 216078
Web
Visit the website
The 12th-century Duomo of Modena is one of Italy’s leading Romanesque cathedrals and more recently became the final resting place of the popular tenor Luciano Pavarotti. The exterior is adorned with Romanesque figures depicting scenes from the Bible, and interior treasures include mosaics, a 13th-century marble parapet depicting the Passion of Christ, and two terracotta nativity scenes from the 15th and 16th centuries. The cathedral, along with the bell tower and Piazza Grande, has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
See our Modena travel guide.
Pisa
Direction
56126 Pisa , Province of Pisa , ItalyGet directions
While people associate Pisa with the leaning tower, all the Romanesque monuments in Campo dei Miracoli , Campo de los Milagros, are spectacular and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The white duomo dates from 1063 with a facade built in the 12th century. Inside there is a large marble pulpit and several important works of art.
Read about the main sights of Pisa.
Assisi – Basilica of Saint Francis
Direction
Piazza Inferiore di S. Francesco, 2 , 06081 Asís PG , ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 075 819001
Web
Visit the website
The Umbrian city of Assisi and the Basilica of Saint Francis are famous as the home of Saint Francis, the patron saint of Italy. The tomb of St. Francis is located in the basilica, a popular pilgrimage site. Built on a hillside, the basilica is made up of two churches, the lower and the upper, and outside there is a large portico. Both churches are richly decorated with frescoes by medieval artists. Although badly damaged by an earthquake in 1997, most of the church has been restored although some frescoes were lost. The Basilica of San Francisco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
See our Assisi Travel Guide.
Catedral de Parma – Cathedral of Parma
Direction
Piazza Duomo, 7 , 43121 PR de Parma , ItalyGet directions
Telephone
+39 0521 235886
Web
Visit the website
Parma’s 12th century cathedral is another great example of a Romanesque church. The ceiling frescoes have been recently restored and are an incredible site. Statues of lions flank the entrance and the bell tower is topped with a gilded copper angel. Its octagonal dome is unusual for a church of that time.
Check out our Parma travel guide.
