Above its pink marbles are two singular objects; the first is the statue of San Geminiano which is a sign of protection for the city, while the second is a bone that the Modenese, for a long time, thought was a dragon. Inside and outside, it preserves significant treasures envied by the whole world ... #UNESCO #tuttitaly
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo and San Geminiano is Modena's most important religious building. This architectural work fascinates its visitors for its originality and grandeur.
The Cathedral of Modena is the masterpiece of architect Lanfranco and the sculptor Wiligelmo, who was followed by the intervention of the Campionesi masters. The latter was tasked with completing the Cathedral and building the so-called Ghirlandina bell tower.
The first brick for the construction of the Cathedral was laid on 9 June 1099.
The facade deserves a careful look. Numerous reliefs enrich it. Among these, four panels created by Wiligelmo, representing the Stories of Genesis, were designed to narrate the Bible and make it understandable to those who cannot read. This is why the Cathedral has been called the "Bible of stone" or the "Bible of the poor."
The dimly lit interior is divided into three naves by large round arches, which rest on composite pillars alternating with columns. Under the hierarchy is the crypt, which houses the tomb of San Geminiano.
Curiosity: during the excavations of the Cathedral, a bone was found. Initially, it was thought that it belonged to a dragon and that Christians used it as protection from the devil's snares...
In recent times it has been discovered to be from a whale. The territory of the Po Valley was formerly a maritime area. The bone is displayed above the Porta Regia.
In 1997, UNESCO declared the Cathedral of Modena, the Ghirlandina, and Piazza Grande a World Heritage Site.
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