Las sandalias de Ulises
Cathedral of Pavia
The cathedral is one of the most significant and important monuments in the city of Pavia. Ordered to be built by Bishop Ascanio Maria Sforza Visconti, work began in 1488 by the architect Cristoforo Rocchi. Leonardo da Vinci who visited Pavia during the early stages of the work also provided input on the project, specifically regarding the technique. Part of the shrine dates back to 1521 and was done by Gianpietrino Rizzi, a pupil of Leonardo. In the seventeenth century the share of the chancel had run out so the structure remained incomplete until 1898 when the facade and dome were finally completed according to the original design of Giovanni Antonio Amadeo.
The construction was completed in 1930 with the addition of the two arms in the transept which were also built according to the original designs of the sixteenth century but using a reinforced concrete support structure so that the internal architectural lines were not altered. The monument is a building of considerable size. The floor is a Greek cross with three naves flanked by semicircular chapels. The Church´s width is the same as its height which measures around 84 meters. The central octagonal dome is 97 meters high and has a 34 meter-long light that weighs about 20,000 tons. The dome is the fourth biggest in Italy surpassed only by that of St. Peter's Basilica, the Pantheon Agrippa and Florence Cathedral. It is currently being restored so 80% of the interior is closed to the public.
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