Foligno Cathedral

Foligno Cathedral, known locally as Cattedrale di San Feliciano, stands as a magnificent testament to the rich history and architectural splendor of Foligno, Italy. Located in the heart of the city at Piazza della Repubblica, this monumental structure is dedicated to Saint Felician, the patron saint of Foligno. As a symbol of the city, the cathedral has witnessed centuries of transformations, restorations, and historical events that have shaped its current grandeur.

The History of Foligno Cathedral

The origins of Foligno Cathedral date back to the 9th or 10th century, built on the site where Saint Felician was buried. The first major renovation occurred in 1133, as evidenced by an inscription on the main portal. In 1201, the left transept was added, and the cathedral featured three naves with an elevated presbytery. Between 1457 and 1465, the choir and apse were expanded, further enhancing the cathedral’s grandeur.

A significant transformation took place under the direction of Cola da Caprarola, who demolished the side naves and gave the cathedral its current Latin cross shape. The single nave with cross vaults and a dome at the intersection of the arms was designed by Giuliano di Baccio d'Agnolo and constructed between 1543 and 1548. Another major renovation occurred between 1772 and 1819, when the interior was redesigned in the Neoclassical style by Giuseppe Piermarini, deviating from Luigi Vanvitelli’s original plan. In 1904, Vincenzo Benvenuti directed the restoration of the two external facades, reinstating their initial Romanesque forms.

Exploring Foligno Cathedral

The exterior of Foligno Cathedral showcases a blend of historical influences. The main facade, once incomplete, now presents a simple gable design following early 20th-century restorations. Above the portal, a blind loggia with various monofora windows supported by columns can be seen, flanked by two biforas. The Romanesque rose window, adorned with symbols of the Evangelists, is crowned by a mosaic depicting Christ enthroned between Saints Felician and Messalina, created by Carlo Botti in 1904. This mosaic also includes an image of Pope Leo XIII, the patron of the work. To the left, a stone memorial honors the fallen of the last wars.

The lateral facade facing Piazza della Repubblica gives the impression of a standalone church. The lower section, up to the cornice, features alternating white and pink stone bands, with three doors corresponding to the medieval naves. The central portal, crafted by masters Rodolfo and Binello, displays a solar disk in the lunette with an inscription dating the facade to 1201. Inside the portal’s jambs are reliefs of Emperor Otto IV of Brunswick and Pope Innocent III, while the inner arch is decorated with symbols of the Evangelists and Zodiac signs, and the outer arch with Cosmatesque mosaics. The carved wooden door dates back to 1620.

Interior Splendor

Inside, the cathedral boasts a Latin cross layout with a single nave divided into two bays covered by cross vaults. A robust round arch supported by two semi-pilasters houses two altars on each side:

• The Altar of the Madonna, featuring Enrico Bartolomei's painting Death of the Martyr Messalina (1850).
• The Altar of the Holy Family, with Giovanni Andrea Lazzarini's Holy Family with the Baptist and God the Father (1779).
• The Altar of Saint Felician, displaying Gaetano Gandolfi's Saint Felician Liberates Foligno from the Plagues.
• The Altar of the Baptism of Christ, with a painting of Jesus being baptized by Saint John the Baptist.

Above the right transept altar is a 15th-century Crucifix and Francesco Pizzoni's Praying Saint Francis (circa 1826). Between the first and second nave bays, a niche holds the silver statue of Saint Felician enthroned, crafted by Giovanni Battista Maini (1732-1733) on an older pedestal by Johann Adolf Gaap (1700). The statue was damaged by theft in 1982 and later restored with replicas of the stolen parts.

The left transept leads to the 16th-century Iacobilli Chapel, frescoed by Vespasiano Strada with scenes from Saint Felician’s life and, above the entrance, Baldassare Croce's Miracle of Saint Martin.

The crossing is covered by a coffered dome with a lantern, leading to the apse, which features frescoes and stuccoes by Francesco Mancini: Apotheosis of Saint Felician (1723) on the vault and Triumph of Religion (1722) in the apse. An ancient copy of Raphael’s Madonna of Foligno is displayed at the back of the apse.

The presbytery occupies the entire apse area, preceded by the confession, which provides access to the original 11th-century crypt. The crypt, with its rectangular shape altered in the 15th and 16th centuries and early 20th-century paintings, features columns with reused zoomorphic capitals. The adjacent room displays various reliquaries behind a 17th-century gate. Behind the confession is Andrea Calcioni’s gilded wooden ciborium (1698), a scaled replica of the more famous Baldacchino of Saint Peter in the Vatican. The only difference between the two ciboria, aside from scale, materials, and colors, is the replacement of papal tiaras with episcopal mitres. The wooden choir beneath the apse canopy features a large cathedra atop seven steps, replacing the usual five.

Within the Diocesan Chapter Museum in Foligno, housed in the Palazzo delle Canoniche, visitors can admire medieval and Baroque works, including Nicolò di Liberatore's Crucifix with Jesus, Mary, and John and several frescoes. The busts of Bartolomeo and Diana Roscioli are attributed to Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Foligno Cathedral is not just a religious building; it is a symbol of the city's resilience and artistic heritage. Despite being currently closed due to damage from the 2016 central Italy earthquake, the cathedral remains a beacon of Foligno’s historical and cultural identity, awaiting its next chapter of restoration and reopening.