Museo Lapidario

About

The original collection of the Lapidarium Museum includes finds which came to light as the cathedral was being restored between the end of the 19th and 20th century. In the collection there are sculptures and there is relief art work from Roman times which was mainly reused as building material to build the Duomo. There are also fragments from the previous medieval cathedrals, finds from the Roman period, ancient inscriptions, both medieval and modern. Of importance in the exhibition are the plutei from the pre-existing High Middle Ages cathedral, the San Geminiano Arch, the noteworthy series of Metope, consisting of eight sculptures depicting monster like creatures (gargoyles) and fantastic beings and carved by a master craftsman working in Wiligelmo’s workshop, as well as one of the lion column bases at the Porta dei Principi, which was later removed and replaced by a copy after being damaged during WWII.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes