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Cathedral of St Clement: the spiritual heart of Velletri
The town’s principal place of worship is the Cathedral of San Clemente, a monument that tells a thousand-year-old story. It was first constructed in the 4th century, above the foundations of an ancient Roman temple. After earthquakes and rebuildings, the structure we admire today was completed in the 17th century, yet its façade still preserves the magnificent Renaissance portal of 1512.
Artistic treasures among the naves
The interior, with its three naves, is a precious collection of masterpieces spanning the centuries. The eye is immediately drawn to the high altar, dominated by a ciborium in a Cosmati style, and to the precious 14th-century frescoes adorning the apse. The gilded wooden organ of the 16th century and the venerated 14th-century icon of the Madonna delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace) are also stand-out features.
The heart of the church in the crypt
The oldest and most sacred part of the cathedral is in the crypt. Here, among the still-visible remains of medieval frescoes, are preserved the relics of the holy martyrs Pontian and Eleutherius, testifying to the deep faith that has underpinned this place for centuries.
Velletri Cathedral is an active place of worship. The works within its walls span more than a thousand years of artistic and religious history.
