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 Basilica Cathedral at Volterra Scott 1750 (2020) In 2020, Vatican City issued two stamps honoring basilicas in Italy. One of those stamps commemorates the 9th centenary of the dedication of the Cathedral of Volterra. The stamp (shown above) depicts the facade of the Cathedral and was part of a joint issue with Italy. On May 20, 1120, Pope Calixtus II consecrated the Volterra Cathedral or Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary). The Cathedral had been rebuilt following the earthquake of 1117 that destroyed most of the town of Volterra, including the original church (which had been built in the 9th century).  Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, Volterra, Tuscany, Italy Photo by Davide Papalini (2010) From Wikimedia Commons, Used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license The Cathedral is in the Romanesque style with a Latin Cross plan with three naves. It has been remodeled several times over the years. A major renovation, started in 1580, included the decoration of the intricately coffered ceiling of the nave and crossings. The elongated nave spans 22 columns, which are decorated with stucco simulating rose-colored granite. The campanile or bell tower to the left of the facade was built in 1493, replacing an older bell tower. 
 Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, Volterra, Tuscany, Italy Interior Views: Columns (1895 photo) and Ceiling From Wikimedia Commons, in the Public Domain The Cathedral of Volterra was raised to the status of minor basilica in 1957 with the papal bull of Pope Pius XII, which recognized the ecclesial, historic and artistic importance of the church. REFERENCES: |
