It is one of the most beautiful churches we have been in, while visiting the central regions of Italy. The Cathedral of Teramo, or simply the 'Duomo' of Teramo, is one of the most unique, complex and original things that Italian art has. As it appears today, it results from the union of two churches, in which the new one works as the apse of the oldest one. The façade, in stone and brick, is square but the majestic, rich cosmatesque portal (1332) by the Roman sculptor Deodato, and the high Gothic spire that crowns it, rising above the cornice and the merlons, create a new dimension and make this singular façade completely new. The interior, which has a plan divided into three naves, is bare, sober but imposing: the columns come from ancient pagan temples, the vaults have the power of the best things of the Middle Ages and the tabernacle, of Romanesque inspiration, secures the most precious work of art of the church: the famous antependium (the 'paliotto') by Nicola da Guardiagrele, which, with its thirty-five silver panels tells the story of the life of Christ. In the middle of the main nave there is a transversal body: it is the Baroque chapel which houses the relics of S. Berardo, transported here from the old cathedral in 1174. The Cathedral, (dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and to Saint Berardo, the patron saint of the town), was started in 1158 at the behest of Bishop Guido II and was enlarged in the fourteenth century by order of Bishop Nicolò degli Arcioni. Further changes date back to the second half of the 15th and 18th centuries, when the Duomo was transformed according to the Baroque styles, which finally were removed, following a 1932 intervention. Influenced by both Romanesque and Gothic artistic currents, the Cathedral boasts two façades. The first overlooks Piazza Orsini, where you can admire the latest transformations desired by the Bishop Nicolò degli Arcioni, who made substantial changes. The rear façade has a simpler and more essential appearance. The lower part is in stone masonry, the upper part has alternating bands of red and brown bricks and stone.The portal, which is walled, has no particular decorations. The cathedral also boasts the most beautiful Gothic-Lombard (47 m high) bell tower in the Italian region of Abruzzo. Its impressive construction dates back to the twelfth century but was completed only in 1493 by Antonio da Lodi. The most relevant part of the church is the upper one, which shows a varied set of decorations, with glazed yellow and blue terracotta discs, Inside, along with the silver antependium, the fifteenth-century polyptych of St. Augustine, made by the Venetian artist Jacobello del Fiore and located in the chapel of San Berardo, is also of considerable artistic importance. Even if you aren't particularly religious, the sacred feeling when you enter the doors is remarkable. Definitely worth seeing and it should be on your must-see list. This was one of the highlights of our vacation. To stand in the piazza and take in the size and details of this cathedral was awe-inspiring.

The exterior of this cathedral is not that special, but the inside in spacious with typical Romanesque arches. As a result, the church is very sober, and it is only the architecture that impresses one. Well worth a visit if you are near Teramo.