Reggio Emilia Cathedral

Reggio Emilia Cathedral
West front of the cathedral
Basic information
Location	Reggio Emilia, Italy
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Rite	Latin Rite (Roman)
Country	Italy
Architectural style	first Romanesque, then Renaissance and Baroque

Reggio Emilia Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Reggio Emilia; Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) is a Roman Catholic cathedral (and one of the three main religious buildings) in Reggio Emilia (Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy). The dedication is to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Formerly the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Reggio Emilia, it has been since 1986 that of the Diocese of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla.

Built originally in Romanesque style, the cathedral was largely modified in the following centuries. The façade originally had 13th-century frescoes, now housed in the diocesan museum.

The current façade is unfinished, with a 16th-century covering on the lower level, with pilasters surrounding niches containing the statues of the four patron saints of the city. The main portal has two statues in a style influenced by Michelangelo, portraying Adam and Eve.

In February 2009 it was announced that a Roman mosaic floor filled with scenes depicting pagan rites and oriental gods had been discovered underneath the cathedral. The mosaic pavement, which measures 13 square meters and dates to the 4th century AD, was unearthed at a depth of about 4 meters below the ground during archaeological investigations in the crypt. The size and design of the mosaic pavement suggest that it formed the floor of a huge room.

There are also works by Carlo Bononi, Francesco Vellani, Sebastiano Vercellesi, and Orazio Talami. The cupola frescoes are by Francesco Fontanesi (1779).

Coordinates: 44°41′51″N 10°37′51″E / 44.69750°N 10.63083°E / 44.69750; 10.63083