Volterra Cathedral

Volterra Cathedral, officially known as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta and sometimes referred to as the Duomo di Volterra, is a significant Roman Catholic cathedral situated in the historic city of Volterra, Italy. It holds the distinction of being the seat of the bishop of Volterra.

History and Construction

The origins of a church dedicated to Saint Mary at this site date back to the 9th century. However, the present-day structure owes its existence to a substantial rebuilding effort following a devastating earthquake in 1117 that ravaged much of Volterra. This rebuilt church was consecrated by Pope Calixtus II in 1120. While details about the earlier church are scarce, it's important to note that the original cathedral was dedicated to Saint Peter and located elsewhere. This earlier cathedral was later destroyed by Florentine forces during a siege in 1472, after which the episcopal see was permanently transferred to the present cathedral.

Further architectural contributions are attributed to the mid-13th century, with Nicola Pisano reportedly involved in reconstruction efforts. The cathedral's facade is characterized by its rustic stone construction in the Romanesque style, notably incorporating spolia, or reused materials, from the ancient Roman theater of Volterra. The intarsia above the main portal is also attributed to Pisano.

In the late 16th century, under Bishop Guido Serguidi and with the approval of Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, extensive redecoration of the nave and crossing ceilings was undertaken. Designed by Francesco Capriani, carved by Jacopo Pavolini, and gilded by Fulvo della Tuccia, this intricately coffered ceiling features sculpted reliefs of various saints and a central symbol of the Holy Spirit. The current campanile, standing at 1493, replaced an earlier belltower.

Architecture and Interior

The cathedral's interior is designed with an elongated nave forming a Latin cross plan. The nave is flanked by twenty-two columns adorned with stucco that imitates rose-colored granite. Significant restoration work on the interior took place between 1842 and 1843. The stucco capitals were completed in the 16th century by Giovanni Paolo Rossetti and Leonardo Ricciarelli. During the 19th century, the interior walls were painted with stripes, a decorative choice intended to evoke typical Tuscan church architecture. The floor is laid with alternating dark and white marble tiles.

A prominent feature is the pulpit, adorned with three reliefs depicting the Last Supper, the Annunciation, and the Sacrifice of Isaac. The lions at the base of its columns are considered 12th-century works from the Guglielmo school, possibly carved by the Pisan sculptor Bonamico. Additional elements and alabaster intarsia were added in 1584 during a reconstruction of the pulpit.

Chapels and Artworks

Volterra Cathedral contains numerous chapels, each housing significant artworks and relics. The Chapel of Saint Ottaviano contains the saint's relics in a marble sarcophagus sculpted by Raffaello di Andrea Cioli. The Chapel of the Madonna dei Chierici features a wooden icon of the Madonna carved by Francesco di Valdambrino. The Chapel of Saint Paul, commissioned by the Inghirami family, showcases frescoes on its ceiling and walls by artists such as Giovanni Mannozzi and Domenichino.

The cathedral also holds the funeral monument of Bishop Mario Maffei, sculpted by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli. The Oratory of the Virgin Mary contains a fresco cycle by Benozzo Gozzoli and glazed terracotta figures attributed to Giovanni della Robbia. Other chapels feature works by artists including Mino da Fiesole, Fra Bartolomeo della Porta, Albertinelli, Pieter de Witte, Francesco Curradi, and Niccolò Circignani, among many others, contributing to the cathedral's rich artistic heritage.

The Serguidi Chapel, designed in part by Vasari, is a notable Baroque addition, decorated by Leonardo Ricciarelli and Giovanni Balducci, and contains works by Santi di Tito and Agostino Veracini. The Chapel of the Deposition houses a striking group of five wooden polychrome figures from 1228, attributed to an unknown Volterran artist, depicting the Deposition of Christ.