The cathedral houses the heart of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, which was interred here after his death in Rome.
The façade incorporates a clock rescued from the Church of the Gesù in Rome, installed during the 1700 expansion.
The original church structure was elevated to cathedral status in 1728 by Pope Benedict XIII.
Much of the interior artwork and structural elements are modern reconstructions due to the severe aerial bombardment suffered in 1943.
It is the cathedral church for the Suburbicarian Diocese of Frascati, one of the seven oldest dioceses in the Roman Catholic Church.
Frascati Cathedral, officially the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, serves as the seat of the Suburbicarian Diocese of Frascati. Construction began in 1599 and continued under the guidance of architect Ottaviano Nonni, known as 'Il Mascherino', with significant additions occurring throughout the 18th century. The Baroque façade was redesigned by Gerolamo Fontana in 1700, notably featuring the inclusion of the clock from the former church of the Gesù in Rome. The interior houses a relief depicting the Virgin and Child attributed to the school of Antonio Canova. It also contains the funeral monument of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, the 'Young Pretender,' whose heart was enshrined here following his death in 1788. The cathedral was heavily damaged during Allied bombing raids in September 1943 and underwent extensive reconstruction in the post-war period. Its current structure functions as an active place of worship serving the local Roman Catholic community.
From the center of Piazza San Pietro to capture the full scale of the 18th-century façade.
Combine your visit with a walk through the adjacent town center to sample local Frascati Superiore wine.
Check the notice board near the entrance for information on local liturgical music events or concerts.
Visit the nearby Villa Aldobrandini, as the cathedral's exterior vista is framed beautifully by the surrounding hillside landscape.
Do not attempt to enter during active mass services if you are not participating in the liturgy.
Modest dress is required: shoulders and knees must be covered. Maintain silence during prayer or active services.
