When Pope
Urban V established the
Diocese of Montefiascone in 1396, the church that was the most popular and most central was chosen to be the cathedral of the new diocese, after which major reconstruction began. The building from the crypt up to the base of the dome dates from the 15th and 16th centuries and was undertaken by the
Veronese architect
Michele Sanmicheli, probably with the help of
Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. At this time the lower church was created, and the plans for the upper church drawn up, although for economic reasons this phase of building stopped at the level of the roof, and the cathedral remained open to the elements until 1602. After a fire during the night of
Good Friday in 1670 destroyed the roof and part of the interior of the cathedral, the repair and completion of the construction was entrusted to
Carlo Fontana, who amended Sanmicheli's plans to produce a dome more in keeping with contemporary taste which was to impact decisively on the landscape of the surrounding countryside. The new dome was opened on 16 December 1674. The bell towers and west front were designed and added in 1840 by the architect Paul Gazola, In 1986 the Diocese of Montefiascone was amalgamated with a number of others to form the
Diocese of Viterbo, Acquapendente, Bagnoregio, Montefiascone, Tuscania e San Martino al Monte Cimino, and the church ceased to be an episcopal seat. ==Contents==