Orvieto Cathedral - Orvieto, Italy
Posted by: 
hykesj
N 42° 43.018 E 012° 06.750
33T E 263559 N 4733427
The magnificent Orvieto Cathedral graces this 1997 Italian postage stamp.
Waymark Code: WM1883Q
Location: Umbria, Italy
Date Posted: 06/16/2023
Views: 1
Over the years, Italy has issued many postage stamps celebrating their rich artistic and cultural heritage. Easily making the cut is this large, ornately decorated cathedral in the smallish town of Orvieto. Orvieto seems an unlikely place for such a grand edifice but in the thirteenth century, it lay on the road from Florence to Rome and was the home of Pope Urban IV. It was also close to the site of the miracle of the Corporal of Bolsena, relics of which are still housed in the Cathedral.
Primarily built in the fourteenth century, the cathedral was a work in progress for hundreds of years. As such, it displays a variety of architectural styles passing from Romanesque to Gothic. Both the interior and exterior are decorated with alternating layers of basalt and travertine giving the building a striped appearance. Standing seven stories high, it towers over the surrounding town which itself towers over the surrounding countryside being built on a protruding volcanic plug.
The incredible façade contains more fine art than most museums. There are life-sized statues of the twelve apostles and a dozen Old Testament prophets. The life of Mary is told with a glittering series of mosaics and intricate bas-reliefs relay various biblical accounts. All this in addition to a wonderful rose window and various other bronze and stone statuary and ornamentation.
Stamp Issuing Country: Italy
Date of Issue: 31-May-1997
Denomination: 450 l
Color: deep violet
Stamp Type: Single Stamp
Relevant Web Site: Not listed
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