Between 1486 and 1517, Bishop Andrea Novelli commissioned a complete reconstruction of Alba Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Lawrence, to replace a decaying 11th-century church. The rebuild preserved the original crypt, three portals, porch, and 13th-century bell tower. Located in Piazza Risorgimento, the red-brick Gothic cathedral shares distinct stylistic traits with the cathedral of Chieri, notably its lobed pillars and painted vaults.
What to see
The facade features a pointed-arch pronaos, a central rose window installed in 1870, a statue of Saint Lawrence by Luigi Cocchio, and four evangelical reliefs by Carlo Dusio. The three-naved interior contains six side chapels housing paintings by artists such as Claudio Francesco Beaumont, Agostino Cottolengo, and Enrico Reffo. In the transept, the Saint Theobald Chapel holds an altarpiece assembly crafted between 1514 and 1517 by Antonio Carloni and frescoes by Michel Antonio Millocco. The main apse features a 1712 Baroque altar by Giuseppe Gaggini alongside the cathedral's most famous treasure: a 1512 wooden choir by Bernardino da Fossano featuring 35 inlaid stalls portraying urban perspectives and liturgical objects.
Visiting
The sanctuary area illustrates centuries of liturgical evolution. At the base of the stairs leading to the elevated Tridentine presbytery sits a modern sanctuary arrangement installed between 2007 and 2009, while the 11th-century crypt survives underneath the raised section.
Our editors' tip
Look closely at the 1878 facade bas-reliefs: the Italian names for the symbols of the four evangelists — Angelo (Matthew), Leone (Mark), Bue (Luke), and Aquila (John) — spell out the name of the town, ALBA.