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Piazza Duomo in Amalfi, Italy. This bustling square is the center of the town. Via Lorenzo d'Amalfi is in the background (center, left) going into the mouth of a deep ravine where the town of Amalfi is located.

Sant'Andrea (St. Andrew) fountain on Piazza Duomo in Amalfi, Italy

Crowds of tourists arrive to Amalfi (Italy) with buses for a day-trip to enjoy this beautiful town. Piazza Duomo and Amalfi's Duomo (cathedral) is the primary destination and a must for all visitors.

Here it is - Saint Andrew's Cathedral (Duomo - Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea) overlooking the Piazza Duomo, the heart of Amalfi and sitting on the top of a staircase; 62 steps, wide and steep as all steps in Amalfi, lead to the Cathedral's doors.

View from the Amalfi Cathedral (Duomo, Amalfi, Italy) down to the piazza Duomo. Traffic through the square is limited from June to the first half of September with alternating hours when cars are not allowed. There are several restaurants and bars located on piazza Duomo. One of them is Ristorante Piazza Duomo serving decent food.

Amalfi Cathedral (Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea or Duomo di Amalfi) - its tympanum's (a semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance) mosaics portray “The triumph of Christ” by Domenico Morelli.

Amalfi Cathedral (Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea or Duomo di Amalfi) - bell tower in Romanesque style located off the center of the main structure. Its constriction started in 1180, and completed about 100 years later.

Another mosaic over the main entrance to Amalfi Cathedral (Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea or Duomo di Amalfi). It depicts the Apostle Saint Andrew (sant'Andrea apostolo), a Christian Apostle and the brother of Saint Peter according to the New Testament. Saint Andrew is considered the founder and first bishop of the Church of Byzantium.

Duomo di Amalfi (Amalfi Cathedral or Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea) is designed in Arab-Norman architectural style. However, over the time, it has been remodeled several times, adding Romanesque, Byzantine, Gothic, and Baroque elements.

Amalfi Cathedral (Amalfi, Italy) - the cathedral's bronze doors are the earliest in Italy of post-Roman period. They were cast in Constantinople in 11th century, and are decorated by silver incrustations (now almost indistinguishable from the doors' bronze) with images of Christ, Mary, and saints.

Amalfi Cathedral (Amalfi, Italy) - separate access to Duomo di Amalfi reserved for tourists. Entrance fee (2011) is €3 (for kids €1). Visitors proceed first to the Paradise Cloister (seen in the background), Basilica of the Crucifix and the Crypt.

Chiostro del Paradiso (Cloister of Paradise) is located at the left side of the cathedral’s portico. It is one of the most important architectural treasures of Amalfi Cathedral. The Cloister was built in 1266-68 for Bishop Augustariccio as a burial ground for Amalfi's nobility. It is designed as a rectangular enclosed area filled with palms and flowers and surrounded by intertwining arches on double columns in Moorish style. Copyright: The Consortium

Amalfi Cathedral (Amalfi, Italy) - view on Duomo's bell tower from the Paradise Cloister. Copyright: The Consortium

Amalfi Cathedral (Amalfi, Italy) was built alongside a 9th Century basilica called the Basilica of the Crucifix (Basilica del Crocifisso). The earlier basilica was stripped of most of its decoration and turned into a museum for the cathedral. Copyright: Velvet, Wikipedia, Italian Edition

Amalfi Cathedral (Amalfi, Italy), the Basilica of the Crucifix (Basilica del Crocifisso). The photo shows the silver front of 17th Century altar on display in the basilica. Copyright: The Consortium

The old 9th century basilica next to which Amalfi Cathedral (Amalfi, Italy) was build, is called the Basilica of the Crucifix. It is built in Romanesque style and has a nave, two aisles, and a high, deep apse shown on the photo. Copyright: The Consortium

Amalfi Cathedral (Amalfi, Italy), Paradise Cloister - 14th century fresco with 14th century crucifixion scene by Roberto d'Oderisio, a student of Giotto. Copyright: The Consortium

Amalfi Cathedral (Amalfi, Italy), Paradise Cloister - a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of six chapels from the XIII-XIV century surrounding the Cloister. Copyright: The Consortium

Amalfi Cathedral (Amalfi,Italy) - Main altar of the Crypt which contains the remains of St Andrew. The Crypt is located under Duomo di Amalfi which was built to house the saint's bones. The remains of St. Andrew are believed to be brought to Amalfi by Cardinal Peter of Capua from Constantinople in 1206 during the Fourth Crusade. In 1208, the crypt was completed and the relics were turned over to the church. Marble statues in Crypt were sculpted by Pietro Bernini, father of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the famous Italian sculptor and architect. Copyright: The Consortium

Amalfi Cathedral (Amalfi, Italy) - the part of the Crypt where the relics of Saint Andrew are stored: behind the screen and below the tabernacle (a small cupboard, chest or cabinet in which the consecrated hosts are kept). Copyright: The Consortium

Inside the Amalfi Cathedral (Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea or Duomo di Amalfi). Its interior is adorned in the late Baroque style with a nave and two aisles divided by 20 columns.

Inside the Amalfi Cathedral (Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea or Duomo di Amalfi). The sarcophagus of the Archbishop Pietro Capuano (died 1359) is used as the foundation for the high (main) altar (clearly visible in the picture) in the central nave.

Inside the Amalfi Cathedral (Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea or Duomo di Amalfi). This photo shows a wooden 13th century crucifix and painting "The Martyrdom of St. Andrew" by Andrea d'Aste (c. 1673-1721), a Napoletan painter.

Inside the Amalfi Cathedral (Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea or Duomo di Amalfi). The apse of the cathedral is decorated in a typical Baroque style resulting from the 18th century restoration pf the church and has nothing in common with the original decoration of the apse.

The photo shows the motif of a triumphal arch incorporated into the internal design of the Amalfi Cathedral (Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea or Duomo di Amalfi). The arch is supported by two massive columns.

One of the organs and lectern in Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea (Duomo di Amalfi, Amalfi, Italy).

Amalfi Cathedral (Duomo di Amalfi) in Amalfi, Italy. The interior decor of the church (in Baroque style after 18th century restoration) is very rich and elaborate. Multicolor marbles are used lavishly in many interior design elements.

Left aisle in the Amalfi Cathedral (Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea or Duomo di Amalfi, Amalfi, Italy). One of its chapels is in the background.

Close-up on a painting inside the chapel (ses previous photo). The inscription on top reads as "Deus absconditus heic" or "Here is the Hidden God" referring to the concept that a deity existence is not readily knowable by humans through solely contemplation or examination of divine actions (introduced by Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274), an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, influential philosopher and theologian. Copyright: The Consortium

Another view on the interior decor of Amalfi Cathedral (Duomo di Amalfi, Amalfi, Italy) - elaborate polychrome marbles on columns separating the church's nave from its aisles.

One of the prominent features of the Amalfi Cathedral (Duomo di Amalfi, Amalfi, Italy) is its gold caisson ceiling (in architecture, a caisson is a sunken panel of ceilings or soffits) which dates to 1702. It has four large paintings by Andrea d'Aste depicting the flagellation of Saint Andrew, the miracle of Manna, the crucifixion of Saint Andrew and the Saint on the cross.

Saint Andrew's Cathedral (Duomo, Amalfi, Italy) - view on its main entrance from inside. Organ pipes are visible above the entrance.

Saint Andrew's Cathedral (Duomo, Amalfi, Italy) - the bronze statue of Saint Andrew sculpted by Michelangelo Naccherino (1550 - 1622), a pupil of Michelangelo;

This group I found in one of the chapels in Saint Andrew's Cathedral (Duomo, Amalfi, Italy) looked like a congregation of Orthodox followers.

Church marriage ceremony in Duomo di Amalfi (Amalfi Cathedral or Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea).