Chiusi - Cathedral

Opposite the National Etruscan Museum in Chiusi, to the south, stands the cathedral (San Secondiano), the origins of which date back to the seventh century. It owes its present form to rebuilding in the 13th century and restoration work carried out between 1887 and 1895. The campanile (altered in the 16th century) is built over a Roman cistern hewn from the tufa and roofed with two domes. The nave of the church is separated from the aisles by 18 columns of different forms taken from Roman buildings in the area. The wall-paintings in the interior, imitating mosaics, date from the late 19th century; of greater artistic interest are the font and the carving on the columns. In the chapter-house, which is reached from the sacristy, are 22 choir-books illustrated with miniatures from the Abbazía di Monte Oliveto Maggiore.