Doorway of the Cathedral

Cathedral of Naples

The wooden gateway to history.

In the early months of 2025, extraordinary maintenance works were carried out on the wooden doorway of the Cathedral of Naples, set in the heart of the ancient centre, on the central via Duomo.

The doorway, made in the sixteenth century, is symbolically the gateway to the history of our city, from the Roman Empire through Baroque art down to the present day.

This artefact stood in urgent need of restoration interventions to preserve its beauty and integrity. The works were entrusted to the masters of Dafne Restauri under the close supervision of the Soprintendenza, within the wider project of the MUDD – Museo Diocesano Diffuso, strongly championed by Father Antonio Loffredo.

The intervention included the restoration of the wooden parts, restoring the wood, parched by time, to the fullness of its original colour, the treatment of the metal studs and the consolidation of the coats of arms of the Capece Minutolo family.

In addition to the main doorway, care was also given to the side doorway above the entrance steps on piazza Sisto Riario Sforza, where the Association had already overseen the restoration of the iron and piperno railing.

This doorway, which differs from the first in its metal structure, is set within an elegant white marble frame and is surmounted by the lunette depicting the Coronation of the Virgin.

This small fresco, which seemed almost illegible, has instead come back to light after a careful intervention of consolidation and cleaning.