The St. Paul's Cathedral is located right on top of the Acropolis, on the remains of an earlier temple dedicated to Saturn, the mythical founder of Alatri.
The buildings include the Church of St. Paul and the adjacent Bishopric whose earliest records date back to 930, the early medieval period. Both buildings have been extensively modified in 1700s and present the style of that work.
The facade of the cathedral is made of stone and brick and was built between 1790 and 1808 by Jacopo Subleyras together with the bell according to the model of the major Roman basilicas.
The church has a Latin cross plan with three naves and a raised transept with a cosmatesco pulpit from 1222.
Inside lie the relics of Pope St. Sixtus I, patron of the city, within an ancient lead urn on whose cover is engraved with the inscription: " HIC RECONDITUM EST CORPUS XYSTI PP. PRIMI ET MARTIRIS ".
In the right aisle is conserved the body of the martyr St. Alexander, donated in 1640 to the church of Alatri.
The church is also famous for the 'Miracle of the Host Incarnate', i.e. a host which the faithful believe has turned into flesh in the thirteenth century.
This miracle was recognized by the Catholic Church as a 'mandatum' of Pope Gregory IX to Bishop Giovanni V on 13 March 1228.
The miracle is depicted in frescoes along the side chapels of the church.
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