Venafro Cathedral

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Venafro Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Venafro; Concattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Venafro in the region of Molise, Italy, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Previously the seat of the Bishops of Venafro, it is now a co-cathedral in the diocese of Isernia-Venafro. The cathedral is not only the biggest church in the city but is also one of the largest in the region. It stands at the foot of the Parco Oraziano, a park leading up into the surrounding mountains. At the end of the fifth century, the first Christian church on the site was constructed by Bishop Constantine over a pagan temple, reusing building materials from older buildings both Roman and Palaeo-Christian. This early building was subsequently plundered and fell into ruin. It was rebuilt in the second half of the 11th century by Bishop Pietro of Ravenna, commemorated by a bas-relief known locally, from its unusual appearance, as "Marzo Settecappotti" ("March Seven-Coats"). This building too had a dramatic existence: it was looted of all moveable goods by the troops of Emperor Frederick II, damaged by earthquakes in 1349 and 1456, set on fire by order of Louis XI of France and forced to accommodate the troops of Charles VIII in 1495. It was consequently subject to continual repairs, modifications and reconstructions. At the end of the 17th century the so-called Cappellone ("big chapel") was constructed (see below).