Cathedral of Cristo Re

The Cattedrale di Cristo Re of La Spezia is the most relevant sign of Catholicism in the whole territory. La Spezia became Episcopal seat in 1929, when Pope Pio XI established the new bishop circumscription of Luni, including La Spezia, Sarzana, and Brugnato. The ancient Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta (Saint Mary of the Assumption’s Church) was selected to become the pro-cathedral of the new diocese on March 19th, 1929. However, right after, the idea of a new cathedral came up. 
This majestic cathedral was ideally designed approximately at the end of the 20’s: the idea was to build a cathedral on an uphill flat open space where the Capuchin Monastery used to be and where now there is Piazza Europa. 
However, the construction works, coordinated by the architect Adalberto Libera, only started in the 50’s and ended in 1975. Once the cathedral was finished, it was dedicated to Christ the King of Centuries.
The plan of the church is round, and this is immediately clear just by looking at it: the visual impact is remarkable, also thanks to the single-pitched outer cladding.
The parvis faces the background mountains and here there are the three entrance doors.
It is a white reinforced-concrete building overlooking the square below and the surrounding gardens.
The inside features a single central-plan hall hosting up to 2,500 people. Its circular base lays on 12 cylindrical 8-meter-high, 1-meter-wide, reinforced-concrete pillars.
The multicolored central dome, painted by Magnani, allows natural light to enter the cathedral.
In the lower part of the church, you will find the crypt of the first bishops of the diocese, and also the head of Saint Venerius.