Modena Cathedral

According to our guidebooks, Modena's cathedral, completed in 1099, is the finest of Italy's Romanesque cathedrals. Apart from its age, it seemed fairly unremarkable, except for one item of sculpture.

West facade

South (starboard) side

Extra south-side portal for VIPs

Looking up the great campanile, the Ghirlandia

On the west facade, possibly not a Last Judgment; possibly someone had been
to Siam?

Some good Old Testament reliefs

Cain bonks Abel, etc.

Knave view

Elevation: alternating piers and columns, triforia,
clerestory, and then...4-part Gothic vaulting...
it was indeed an age of transition, and the
Church was a hugely international organization 

The crypt was very interesting and accessible; almost
Moorish-looking

Thus, with tomb of St. Enzo on the right

View of rood screen from altar; the white band across the
screen is actually the Last Supper tablecloth! So it said

Back outside; the little arched recesses all around the church are entirely exposed
brick now; except for these two, showing earlier plaster and paint

North door frame sculpture...the months and their labors...pretty
standard 

North door, archivolt: the Porta della Pescheria; this is the first known stone
representation of Arthurian legend; scholars appear to agree on a date in the
early 12th century; not only are there relevant scenes from the legends, the
various characters are given their Breton names: Artus de Bretania, Winlogee
(Guinevere), Galvagin (Gawain), et al.; it's not unusual to see something
completely secular on a church; but it's a long way to Tipperary, I mean,
Tintagel