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Ronciglione Cathedral: The Baroque Masterpiece Wanted by an Entire People
In Ronciglione, the Cathedral is not merely a church, it is the pride of an entire community. The design is the work of the great Baroque architect Carlo Rainaldi, but its construction, begun in 1671, was a collective endeavour. The local people contributed by carrying the stones one by one. Inside, its majestic stone dome houses unexpected treasures, among them a precious 15th-century triptych of the Saviour.
A Three-Nave Masterpiece
The interior strikes visitors with its harmony. The space is divided into three naves by mighty pillars that guide the eye towards the high altar and the dome. It is a masterpiece of balance. Light enters with solemnity, bringing out the Baroque forms without overwhelming them. The bell tower, on the other hand, was added later, in 1734, based on a design by another architect, Sebastiano Cipriani.
Hidden Treasures Among the Altars
Wandering through the chapels, one discovers remarkable works. The large 18th-century paintings by Giuseppe Ghezzi and Francesco Trevisani stand out in particular. But the oldest piece is something else entirely. It is the triptych by Viterbo painter Gabriele Di Francesco, depicting the Saviour between the Virgin and St John. Around the high altar, four stucco figures represent the Doctors of the Church.
The Saint of Ronciglione
In a side chapel lies a figure deeply beloved by the people of Ronciglione: the remains of the Venerable Mariangela Virgili, who died "in odour of sanctity". Her memory remains to this day a spiritual point of reference for the entire community, a detail that binds the great architecture inseparably to popular devotion.
Admission to the Cathedral is free, in observance of the schedule of religious services.
