Arezzo Cathedral. Arezzo Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Arezzo in Tuscany, Italy.
It is located on the site of a pre-existing Palaeo-Christian church and, perhaps, of the ancient city's acropolis. The first cathedral of Arezzo was built on the nearby Pionta Hill, over the burial place of Donatus of Arezzo, martyred in 363.
In 1203 Pope Innocent III had the cathedral moved within the city's walls, to the current site. The cathedral however lost the relics of Donatus, which were transferred to the church of San Donato in Castiglione Messer Raimondo.
In spite of this, the cathedral is still dedicated to Saint Donatus and at the high altar houses a 14th-century arch named after him. The construction of the current structure, started in 1278, went through different phases, and ended in 1511.
The façade was built in 1901-1914, replacing the previous, unfinished one, dating to the 15th century. It was the seat of the Bishop of Arezzo from the 3rd century until 1986, and from 1986 onwards has been that of the present Bishop of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro. The façade was designed by Dante Viviani and has a sculpture description by Giuseppe Cassioli, Enrico Quattrini and Viviani himself. The south side of the church is from the original medieval building, in sandstone. In the middle is a 14th-century portal in Florentine style, with two porphyry columns taken from an ancient temple.
It is located on the site of a pre-existing Palaeo-Christian church and, perhaps, of the ancient city's acropolis. The first cathedral of Arezzo was built on the nearby Pionta Hill, over the burial place of Donatus of Arezzo, martyred in 363.
In 1203 Pope Innocent III had the cathedral moved within the city's walls, to the current site. The cathedral however lost the relics of Donatus, which were transferred to the church of San Donato in Castiglione Messer Raimondo.
In spite of this, the cathedral is still dedicated to Saint Donatus and at the high altar houses a 14th-century arch named after him. The construction of the current structure, started in 1278, went through different phases, and ended in 1511.
The façade was built in 1901-1914, replacing the previous, unfinished one, dating to the 15th century. It was the seat of the Bishop of Arezzo from the 3rd century until 1986, and from 1986 onwards has been that of the present Bishop of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro. The façade was designed by Dante Viviani and has a sculpture description by Giuseppe Cassioli, Enrico Quattrini and Viviani himself. The south side of the church is from the original medieval building, in sandstone. In the middle is a 14th-century portal in Florentine style, with two porphyry columns taken from an ancient temple.
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