The Duomo di Como, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, is the monument at the centre of the old town, a tall marble church whose long construction began in the fourteenth century and whose styles run from Gothic to Baroque. The slender facade has a big rose window and a crowd of statues, including Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, the two Roman writers born in Como, set on either side of the main portal behind glass. On the left side is the Porta della Rana, the Frog Door, a Renaissance portal dedicated to the Triumph of the Virgin, with a small frog said to mark the highest level reached by the lake in a flood. Inside, massive columns carry richly decorated vaults, tapestries and sculpture. The cathedral is a short walk from the lakefront and the Brunate funicular.
Hours and tickets
The italia.it tourism page gives visiting hours of 10:30 to 17:30 on weekdays, 10:45 to 16:30 on Saturday and 13:00 to 16:30 on Sunday, and these are visiting hours that can change for services and events. The cathedral has not been free for tourists since 1 February 2025, when a ticket was introduced, with worshippers entering free to a dedicated area.
A report from the time put an integrated ticket for the cathedral and one civic museum at 10 euros, with higher tiers for more museums, sold through the Vivaticket site or at the museum ticket offices. Prices and validity may have changed, so confirm before you go. There is no partner ticket for this sight, so our link goes to the tourism page.
What to look for
Walk around the outside first to find the Frog Door and the Plinys, then go inside to see the tapestries, the sacristies and the vaults. The civic museums that share the ticket, the Tempio Voltiano and the Pinacoteca, are worth adding if you have time, though opening days should be checked.
Making the most of it
Piazza del Duomo is also the heart of Como’s café life, and the Broletto, the old town hall, stands beside it. Combine the visit with a walk along the lakefront to the Temple of Volta and with the funicular to Brunate when it reopens. Dress modestly, because it is an active place of worship.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to the interior of an active cathedral, with a ticket for tourists and a quiet area for worshippers.
Best time
Weekday mornings, when the cathedral is quiet and the light through the windows is good.
How long
Forty-five minutes to an hour for the facade, the Frog Door and the interior.
Tips
Check the ticket price and hours before you go, dress modestly and avoid service times.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Architecture fans, history lovers and anyone who wants a rainy-day sight in Como town.
- Families
- Children enjoy finding the frog on the Porta della Rana, and the visit is short.
- Couples
- A calm, atmospheric stop before dinner on the cathedral square.
- Pair with
- Pair it with the lakefront, the Tempio Voltiano and the Brunate funicular.
- Time needed
- About an hour, or half a day with the museums and lunch.
Good questions
Is Como Cathedral free to enter?+
Not for tourists. A ticket has been required since 1 February 2025, while worshippers enter free. Check the current price before you go.
What are the opening hours?+
The tourism page lists 10:30 to 17:30 on weekdays, 10:45 to 16:30 on Saturday and 13:00 to 16:30 on Sunday. Hours can change for services.
What is the Frog Door?+
The Porta della Rana is a Renaissance portal on the left side. A small frog statue on it is said to mark the highest level the lake reached in a flood.
Who are the statues by the main portal?+
Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, the Roman writers born in Como, protected behind glass on either side of the door.
Where is the cathedral?+
On Piazza del Duomo in the old town, a few minutes’ walk from the lakefront and the ferry landings.
