Behind the high altar, against the back wall of the Cathedral is the beautiful wooden choir, built to hold the Canons of the cathedral when they recite the Liturgy of the Hours, also called the Divine Office, the perennial praise which the Church raises daily to God. The Divine Office consists of readings from sacred texts, Psalms, and hymns, recited throughout the day at present times, called the ‘canonical hours,’ starting with Matins and ending with Compline at night. Work on the choir began in 1362-63 by Francesco del Tonghio to replace the earlier choir built in the thirteenth century. It then continued for more than thirty years, reaching a first stage of completion in 1397, thanks to the help of Giacomo del Tonghio, Francesco’s son, and other artists, among them Mariano d’Agnolo Romanelli and Barna di Turino. In the course of the fifteenth century, other wooden sculptures and decorations were added by Mariano di Jacopo, known as Taccola, and Domenico di Niccolò dei Cori. In the second half of the following century the choir was radically transformed, with the construction ex novo of the central section, corresponding to the stalls against the niche set into the back wall. Designed by Riccio and carved by two local master woodcarvers, these are a masterpiece of elegance and harmony, characterized by an extraordinary variety of decorative motifs and highly refined . . .