Construction began in 1135, and the main altar was consecrated on May 8, 1177. A destroyed inscription credited Nicholaus with the original design, and he carved the Romanesque portal. Benedetto Antelami worked on the south portal, Biagio Rossetti designed the apse, and the bell tower is attributed to Leon Battista Alberti.
The lower west front is Romanesque in white marble, with loggias, arcades, rose windows and bas-reliefs. The upper parts are Gothic, with peaked arches. The bell tower was built from 1451 to 1493 in white and pink marble and is described as unfinished.
An 18th-century fire led to a Baroque remodeling of the interior. The infobox gives completion in the 17th century. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Ferrara. The museum across the square holds works by Cosmè Tura and Jacopo della Quercia.
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