The Cattedrale di S.Lorenzo became the city’s cathedral in the 10th Century after it was deemed to be safer than the more primitive S. Siro cathedral. 1099 saw the start of the construction of a better-suited building. Pope Gelasio II in 1160 consecrated the apsidal and in 1160 saw the building of the side walls with their beautiful sculpted portals dedicated to S. Giovanni and S. Gottardo. The largest of the altars is dedicated to S. John the Baptist, patron of the city, whose relics now sit in a 14th Century urn made by Norman craftsmen.
