The centuries of history within Vercelli Cathedral

Built on the site of an ancient necropolis, Vercelli Cathedral was first constructed in the 4th century by Saint Eusebius, the city's first bishop. He built the first church over the remains of Saint Theonestus, to whom he dedicated the building. After his death, Eusebius was buried there himself, and the dedication changed accordingly. This first building was destroyed during the Gothic invasions of the 5th century. Its replacement was a large basilica inspired by those of Rome and Ravenna, and a major refurbishment was carried out in the 9th century.

In the 11th century, another major restoration took place as a consequence of extreme decay and in particular of a serious fire in 997 that threatened the stability of the structure. In the 12th century, the present campanile was built and the main body of the cathedral was restored again, featuring five aisles separated by columns, a transept, and an imposing portico. In the second half of the 16th century, Pellegrino Tibaldi was commissioned by Bishop Guido Ferrero to rebuild the cathedral entirely, though lack of funds brought the work to a halt after eight years.

Between 1702 and 1717, Stefano Negro built the nave, aisles, and transept, while the remaining parts of the structure, including the west front, were completed in 1757–63 by Benedetto Alfieri and Luigi Barberis. They also added a chapel for the relics of Saint Eusebius, which had been discovered during the 16th-century reconstruction. The cathedral today houses an important treasury, which is now a museum, and an important chapter library containing the Vercelli Book and the Codex Vercellensis.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons