Baldassarre Peruzzi's design for the Carpi Cathedral dates back to 1515 and was praised by Giorgio Vasari, who admired the building's model in his famous volume "The Lives" for its use of Vitruvius' techniques. Peruzzi's patron, Prince Alberto Pio wanted to turn Carpi into a new city boasting a huge square and a church the size of St. Peter's in Rome. Building commenced, but was interrupted ten years later by the fall of the Pio family. 

The foundations for the apses and transept had already been laid, but it took 80 years for the project to continue. This included a number of changes to the original design too, as in the 17th century, the new lords, the Dukes of Ferrara, did not have the vast financial resources the imposing construction required. Work went ahead, but the cathedral's definitive design was only achieved in 1883 with a number of adjustments made by Achille Sammarini. The Latin cross floorplan of the cathedral has three naves and is completely frescoed. Up until the earthquake that struck Emilia Romagna on the 30th May 2012, it was lit by a traditional lighting scheme. 

The restoration project introduced after the earthquake included a tender for a new LED lighting system that was won by Lectron. The cathedral has a vast transept with 2 side chapels and a large presbytery area that ends with a deep apse with two octagonal chapels. It also has a very high dome (48 metres) that was lowered in 1771 on account of static problems. 

Read more about the project on iGuzzini.com