CONSTRUCTED IN 1099 BY LITTLE-KNOWN Italian architect Lanfranco, Duomo di Modena, also known as Modena Cathedral, is one of the more important Romanesque buildings in Europe. The massive structure is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Geminianus. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

For scholars and fans of the Arthurian legend, the cathedral is well-known for its north gate, Porta della Pescheria (“Fish-market Gate”). The gate is decorated with high relief carvings of secular scenes from the Breton tales of King Arthur. These Modena Archivolt reliefs are one of the earliest depictions of the theme, featuring some characters that are not known anywhere else, whether in art or literature.