Church of Santa Maria Annunciata - Cathedral

The Cathedral of Vicenza has been rebuilt various times in the course of the centuries. Remains of mosaic paving came to light after the bombardments of 1944-45. And during excavation in 1970-71 it was discovered that the mosaics belonged to a former early-Christian basilica of the second half of the 6th century. This first basilica was later developed into a much bigger building, probably around the 8th century. The building was dedicated to the Virgin and had important marble ornamentation of which much of great historical and artistic importance have come down to us. The Romanesque five-nave basilica was substituted by a new construction (13th and 14th centuries) of which there remains the south side door dated 1290.
The present basilica dates back to the 15th century. It has a single nave covered with cross vaults, and flanked by chapels built between the 14th and 16th centuries, among which the chapel of St John the Baptist with the baptismal font. The choir is attributed to Lorenzo da Bologna and the dome to Palladio.
The bombardments of 1944-45 destroyed the southern flank, dome and roof. Renovation work was completed in 1950.
The Cathedral contains numerous masterpieces. Among these the most important are the Polyptych by Lorenzo Veneziano with the "Dormitio Virginis" (1366), Francesco Maffei's "Adoration of the Magi", "The Adoration of the Shepherds" from the Maganza school, the two cycles of paintings by Alessandro Maganza, the "Madonna and Child, St Mary Magdalen and Santa Lucia" by Bartolomeo Montagna, and above all the Civran Parament with the splendid architectural moulding in stucco and marble which frames twelve great canvases inspired by the "Legend of the True Cross", the work of seven artists from the second half of the 18th century.
Baptistery and Baptismal font - Liturgical notes

Text approved by the Arts Office of the Diocese of Vicenza

Address: piazza Duomo - tel. 0444 320996-325007

Weekday Masses: 7.30, 8.30, 9.15, 18.30 (winter), 19.00 (summer)
Pre-Feast-day Masses: 19.00
Feast-day Masses: 7.00, 8.30, 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 19.30

Opening times: from Monday to Friday 10.30-12.00 and 15.30-17.30; Saturday 10.30-12.00 (or with reservation)