The Duomo di Orvieto is a large fourteenth century Roman Catholic cathedral situated in the Italian town of Orvieto in Umbria. The building was constructed under the orders of Pope Nicholas IV to commemorate and provide a suitable home for the Corporal of Bolsena, a miracle which is said to have occurred in 1264 in the nearby town of Bolsena, when a traveling priest who had doubts about the truth of transubstantiation found that his Host was bleeding so much that it stained the altar cloth. The cloth is now stored in the Chapel of the Corporal inside the cathedral. (13th century - 14th century - 15th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was that century which lasted from 1301 to 1400. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... A cathedral is a Christian church building, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Anglican, Catholic and some Lutheran churches, which serves as the central church of a diocese, and thus as a bishops seat. ... The site of Orvieto is an Etruscan acropolis. ... Umbria is a region of central Italy, bordered by Tuscany to the west, the Marche to the east and Lazio to the south. ... Nicholas IV, né Girolamo Masci (Lisciano, a small village near Ascoli Piceno, September 30, 1227 – April 4, 1292), was Pope from February 22, 1288 to April 4, 1292. ... The Corporal of Bolsena, preserved in a rich reliquary at Orvieto, is a miraculous cloth of the type of the Shroud of Turin, though not nearly so famous. ... According to many religions, a miracle, derived from the old Latin word miraculum meaning something wonderful, is a striking interposition of divine intervention by God in the universe by which the operations of the ordinary course of Nature are overruled, suspended, or modified. ... Events May 12 - The Battle of Lewes begins (ends May 14). ... Bolsena is a town and comune of Italy, in the province of Viterbo in northern Lazio, 43°39N 11°59E, at 350 meters (1148 ft) above sea-level on the eastern shore of Lake Bolsena. ... Transubstantiation (from Latin transsubstantiatio) is the change of the substance of bread and wine into that of the body and blood of Christ, the change that according to the belief of the Roman Catholic Church occurs in the Eucharist. ...

Situated in a position dominating the town of Orvieto which sits perched on a volcanic plug, the cathedral’s façade is a classic piece of religious construction, containing elements of design from the fourteenth to the twentieth century, with a large rose window, golden mosaics and three huge bronze doors, whilst inside it contains two frescoed chapels decorated by some of the best Italian painters of the period with images of Judgement Day. A volcanic plug or volcanic neck or lava neck is a volcanic landform created when lava hardens within a vent on an active volcano. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s The 20th century lasted from 1901 to 2000 in the Gregorian calendar (often from (1900 to 1999 in common usage). ... The rose window in Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England, at the western end of the nave. ... The term Judgement Day may refer to: The Last Judgement; the ethical-judicial trial, judgement, and punishment/reward of individual humans (assignment to Heaven or to Hell) by a divine tribunal at the end of time. ...

Construction

The flagstone of the cathedral was laid in 1290 by Pope Nicholas IV, and construction was entrusted to Fra Bevignate di Perugia using a design by Arnolfo di Cambio. Construction continued slowly until in 1309 the Sienese architect Lorenzo Maitani was commissioned to work on the church and solve several issues concerning the load-bearing capabilities of the building. He substantially changed the design and construction of the building, creating the current façade and much of the interior before his death in 1330 shortly before the completion of the duomo. For broader historical context, see 1290s and 13th century. ... The tabernacle over the high altar of St. ... Events August 15 - The city of Rhodes surrenders to the forces of the Knights of St. ... Italian architect and sculptor primarily responsible for the construction and decoration of the facade of Orvieto Cathedral. ...

The façade

The most exciting and eye-catching part of the cathedral’s exterior is its golden frontage, which is decorated by large bas-reliefs and statues of the Evangelists created by Maitani. The reliefs depict biblical stories. Above this decoration are mosaics created in the fourteenth century after designs by artist Cesare Nebbia. These original pieces have been replaced and redesigned in the centuries since, particularly in 1713 and 1842. Central to the mosaics is the large rose window built by the artist Orcagna between 1354 and 1380. The newest part of the decoration are the three bronze doors which give access to the entrance of the cathedral. These were finished in 1970 by the Sicilian sculptor Emilio Greco depicting mercies from the life of Christ and are surmounted by a sculpture of the Madonna and Child created by Andrea Pisano in 1347. The building's exterior walls, in contrast to the facade are more simply furnished with alternating layers of local white travertine and blue-grey basalt stone. Evangelism is the proclaiming of the Christian Gospel. ... // Events April 11 - War of the Spanish Succession: Treaty of Utrecht June 23 - French residents of Acadia given one year to declare allegiance to Britain or leave Nova Scotia Canada first Orrery built by George Graham Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Andrea di Cione Arcangelo (c. ... Events End of reign of John VI Cantacuzenus, as Byzantine emperor. ... Events September 8 - Battle of Kulikovo - Russian forces under Grand Prince Dmitrii Ivanovich defeat a mixed army of Tatars and Mongols (the Golden Horde), stopping their advance at Kulikovo. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Andrea Pisano (c. ... Illustration of the Black Death from the Toggenburg Bible (1411). ... Travertine A carving in travertine The rock travertine is a natural chemical precipitate of carbonate minerals; typically aragonite, but often recrystallized to or primary calcite; which is deposited from the water of mineral springs (especially hot springs) or streams saturated with calcium carbonate. ... Basalt Basalt is a common gray to black volcanic rock. ...

The interior

Chapel of the Madonna di San Brizo.

The cathedral’s interior has deliberately been left uncluttered and spacious, with alabaster windows keeping the interior cool during the fierce Italian summer. The roof was decorated in the 1320s by Pietro di Lello and Vanuzzo di Mastro Pierno, and was heavily restored in the 1890s by Paolo Zampi and Paolo Coccheri to its current state. Near the left entrance is the baptisimal font, created in 1390 by Luca di Giovanni and expanded sixteen years later by Sano di Matteo. It is overlooked by a fresco of the Madonna with child painted by Gentile di Fabriano in 1425. Behind the altar are a series of damaged frescoes dedicated to the life of the Virgin Mary created by local artists Preto Ilario and Pietro di Puccino and restored every hundred years for several following centuries. Also in the apse is cathedral’s large organ, containing 5,585 pipes and originally designed by Ippolito Scalza and Bernardino Benvenuti in the fifteenth century before being redesigned in 1913 and 1975. Scalza’s other major contribution to the church is the large Pietà he sculpted in 1579. Alabaster (sometimes called satin spar) is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals: gypsum (a hydrous sulfate of calcium) and the calcite (a carbonate of calcium). ... Events Births December 27 - Anne de Mortimer, claimant to the English throne (died 1411) Domenico da Piacenza, Italian dancemaster (died 1470) John Dunstable, English composer (died 1453) Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson, Swedish statesman and rebel leader (died 1436) Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (died 1447) John VIII Palaeologus Byzantine Emperor (died 1448) Deaths... Events Foundation of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium Births John II, Duke of Lorraine (died 1470) Edmund Sutton, English nobleman (died 1483) Deaths January 18 - Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March, English politician (born 1391) March 17 - Ashikaga Yoshikazu, Japanese shogun (born 1407) May 24 - Murdoch Stewart, 2nd Duke of... The term Virgin Mary has several different meanings: Mary, the mother of Jesus, the historical and multi-denominational concept of Mary Blessed Virgin Mary, the Roman Catholic theological and doctrinal concept of Mary Marian apparitions shrines to the Virgin Mary Virgin Mary in Islam, the Islamic theological and doctrinal concept... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Pietà Pietà by Michelangelo, 1499 Marble, height 174 cm, width at the base 195 cm Basilica di San Pietro, Vatican Pietà by Michelangelo, Museo dellOpera del Duomo, Florence Pietà by Rogier van der Weyden, Museo del Prado, Madrid A still from Mel Gibsons 2004 film, The Passion of... Events January 6 - The Union of Atrecht united the southern Netherlands under the Duke of Parma, governor in the name of king Philip II of Spain. ...

Chapel of the Corporal

Built to house the stained corporal of the miracle of Bolsena, the chapel is decorated with frescoes depicting miracles concerning the bleeding host throughout church history. Painted between 1357 and 1363, by Uglino di Prete Ilaro, Domenico di Meo and Giovanni di Buccio Leonardelli and are noted in part for their anti-semitism which was experiencing an upsurge in Western Europe at the period. There is also a painting by Lippo Memmi of the ‘’Madonna de Raccomandati’’. At the centre of the chapel is a large golden reliquary containing the bloodstained corporal, which was built by Ugolino di Vieri in 1339. It is from here that the corporal is transported for religious processions through the town on feast days. [[ == == ===Events= July 9 - Charles Bridge in Prague was founded == == ==]] Births Vincent Ferrer April 11 - King John I of Portugal Deaths May 28 - King Afonso IV of Portugal Categories: 1357 ... Centuries: 13th century - 14th century - 15th century Decades: 1310s 1320s 1330s 1340s 1350s - 1360s - 1370s 1380s 1390s 1400s 1410s Years: 1358 1359 1360 1361 1362 - 1363 - 1364 1365 1366 1367 1368 See also: 1363 state leaders Events Magnus II, King of Sweden, is deposed by Albert of Mecklenburg. ... The Eternal Jew: 1937 German poster. ... Events Emperor Go-Murakami ascends to the throne of Japan Kashmir is conquered by the muslims Births July 23 - King Louis I of Naples (d. ...

Chapel of the Madonna di San Brizo

A later addition to the cathedral, this chapel (also known as the Signorelli chapel) was started in 1397, but contractual arguments meant that it was nearly over a hundred years before the artist Luca Signorelli was commissioned to decorate it completely, taking over incomplete work by Fra Angelico and Benozzo Gozzoli painted decades before. The chapel is considered the most impressive wok by Signorelli, who spent two years creating a series of frescoes concerning the day of judgment, including the rise of the antichrist, the end of the world and the separation of the damned from the blessed. Below this are smaller paintings of famous writers and philosophers watching the unfolding disaster above them with interest. Depicted here are Homer, Empedocles, Lucan, Horace, Ovid, Virgil and Dante along with images from their works and several medallions depicting local saints. Events February 10 - John Beaufort becomes Earl of Somerset. ... fresco of the Last Judgment (1499) in Orvieto Cathedral Luca Signorelli (c. ... The Blessed Fra Angelico, (c. ... Benozzo Gozzoli Three Wise Men, fresco in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, Florence, 1459-1461. ... In Christian eschatology and Islam, the Antichrist, Anti-christ or Dajjal (literally: anti, opposite; christ, Jesus) has come to mean a person, image of a person, or other entity that is the embodiment of evil and utterly opposed to truth, according to Christianity, while convincingly disguised as wholly good and... The Homère Caetani bust at the Louvre, a 2nd century Roman copy of a 2nd century BC Greek original. ... Empedocles of Agrigentum Empedocles (circa 490 BCE – c. ... Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (November 3, AD 39-April 30, 65), better known in English as Lucan, was a Roman poet, and is one of the outstanding figures of the Silver Latin period. ... Horace Quintus Horatius Flaccus, (December 8, 65 BC - November 27, 8 BC), known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus. ... Engraved frontispiece of George Sandyss 1632 London edition of Publius Ovidius Naso (Sulmona, March 20, 43 BC â€“ Tomis, now Constanta AD 17) Roman poet known to the English-speaking world as Ovid, wrote on topics of love, abandoned women, and mythological transformations. ... A sculpture of Virgil, probably from the 1st century AD. For other uses, see Virgil (disambiguation). ... Dante redirects here. ...

Palazzo dei Papi

The Papal Palace attached to the right of the cathedral was originally begun in the mid-thirteenth century when the pope’s moved to Orvieto to escape conflict in Rome. Pope Urban IV and Pope Martin IV both lived in the town and probably oversaw construction of the initial stages of this building. Pope Boniface VIII extended the building, but it was left unfinished following the papal move to Avignon in 1309. It remained a papal residence until 1550, when it was passed to the ownership of the cathedral, who after using it as a residence for sometime redesigned it in 1896 as a museum, which it remains today. Inside is information and artifacts detailing the history of the cathedral and town. Disused works from the cathedral interior and pieces of original construction removed during later restoration can be seen in the museum, including paintings, reliquaries and the original plans for the cathedral’s construction. City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) coordinates: 41°54′N 12°29′E Time Zone: UTC+1 Administration Subdivisions 19 municipi Province Rome Region Latium Mayor Walter Veltroni ( The Union ) Characteristics Area 1,285 km² Population 2,547,677 (2005 estimate) Density 1983... Urban IV, born Jacques Pantaléon (Troyes, ca. ... Martin IV, né Simon de Brion (ca. ... Boniface VIII, né Benedetto Caetani (Anagni, c. ... View over the Rhône River to North-East with Mt Ventoux at the rear Palais des papes Square below the Palace of the Popes Paul Vs coat-of-arms on the Palais des papes The Notre Dame des Doms cathedral is located in the heart of Avignon, near... Events August 15 - The city of Rhodes surrenders to the forces of the Knights of St. ... Events February 7 - Julius III becomes Pope. ... 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

The ground floor of the building also houses a museum dedicated to the Sicilian artist Emilio Greco who constructed the cathedral’s bronze doors in 1970. The museum contains a wide selection of his works, as well as preparatory papers and sculptures of other large pieces, including several which are housed at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Interior view, with the nave of the Cattedra in the back St. ...

Palazzo dell’Opera del Duomo

Opposite the cathedral is a large grand building constructed in 1359 to house the cathedral’s administrative offices and enlarged in 1857 to create a museum on the ground floor housing Etruscan artifacts discovered around the city, which was once a major Etruscan capital. Next door to this building is the Claudio Faina museum, which houses the substantial collection of Etruscan art collected in the nineteenth century by Count Mauro Faina and bequeathed to the city. Events Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Orhan I (1326-1359) to Murad I (1359-1389) Berlin joins the Hanseatic League. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... See: Etruscan civilization Etruscan language Etruscan alphabet Etruscan mythology See also: Tyrrhenian, Lemnian, Pelasgian. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...