Duomo di Orvietto, Italy

The Cathedral of Orvieto is a large 14th century cathedral constructed under the orders of Pope Urban IV to house the Corporal of Bolsena, a miracle said to have occurred in 1263. The construction of the cathedral lasted almost three centuries with the design and style evolving from Romanesque to Gothic. The three-gable design of the Gothic façade with its golden frontage by Lorenzo Maitani is decorated by large bas-reliefs and statues with the symbols of the Evangelists. In 1352 Matteo di Ugolino da Bologna added the bronze statues of the Lamb of God and Saint Michael above two of the gables. The bas-reliefs on the piers depict l stories from the Testaments. Many of the original mosaics created between 1350 and 1390 by artist Cesare Nebbia have since been replaced. Central to the mosaics is the large rose window built by Orcagna between 1354 and 1380. The frame of the rose window holds 52 carved heads, while in the centre of the rose window is a carved head of Christ. Above the rose window stand the twelve apostles, while in niches on both sides twelve Old Testament prophets are represented in pairs. The three modern bronze doors which give access to the cathedral were finished in 1970 by the Sicilian sculptor Emilio Greco. The central door depicts Christ's Seven Works of Mercy and the side doors show the finely crafted figures of angels.