The Cathedral of St. Mary Major in piazza Duomo is the main place of worship in Civita Castellana (province of Viterbo). Its construction, above a pre-existing sacred building, began in approx. 1185 and was completed with the addition of the portico in 1210: the Cosmati family of architects and marble workers from Rome contributed to its appearance.
It was abandoned until the 1700s when the interior was completely restructured in Baroque style: at the same time, the three-naves were replaced by a single nave with interconnecting side chapels.
The façade has an imposing 13th century portico and three entrance portals: the central portal is flanked by four Corinthian columns, two of which stand on marble lion bases, while the side portals have lunettes and are adorned with Cosmatesque mosaic work. A marble plaque on the exterior records Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s visit to Civita Castellana when he played the organ at the Sunday morning service on 11 July 1770.
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