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Home > Italy Travel Guide > Milan Travel Guide > Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore

Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Introduction
History
Location

ATTRACTIONS

Inside the Church

INFORMATION

Useful information
Links

Introduction

In the populous quarter around Porta Ticinese are the most important remains of Mediolanum, capital of the Roman Empire of the West: the columns and the basilica of San Lorenzo. The juxtaposition of the Roman columns next to the Early Christian basilica creates a truly stirring sight. The sixteen fluted marble columns with Corinthian capitals definitely belonged to a Roman building of the late Imperial period (2nd or 3rd century B.C.), either baths, a temple or a palace. Then, in the IV century they were brought here and lined up to form the front of the portico of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, at the time under construction. In the middle of the churchyard is a bronze statue of the emperor Constantine, a copy of the Roman original.

History

The Basilica, built between the 4th and 5th centuries is probably made of material taken from the nearby Roman amphitheatre. Its original Early Christian plan was later altered in 1573 by Martino Bassi who managed to preserve much of the original octagonal shape and who is responsible for the dome set on the high drum. Oriental influence has been recognised in the square towers at the four sides with the apses inscribed within the square thus formed; it has been claimed that the plan actually comes from Byzantium. It is fascinating to observe the interior and pick out the Early Christian plan from the 16th century modifications. The chapels of St. Aquilinus and St. Hippolytus were built adjacent to the basilica in the 4th century, while the small mausoleum to St. Sixtus dates from the early 6th century. Destroyed by fires on several occasions, it was rebuilt by Martino Bassi after it collapsed in 1573. Bassi preserved the ancient structure and built the dome over the high drum.

Location

Address: Corso di Porta Ticinese 39 I-20100 Milan
Transit: Metro: Sant'Ambrogio

Inside the Church

The interior is worthy of admiration not only for its sixteenth century style, but also for its early Christian base. Bassi slightly modified the ambulatory which originally ran around the entire central space; he created an octagon between the pillars which create the semicircular structures then comprising the women's gallery above. We can see the same octagonal plan with the women's galley in the chapel of St. Aquilinus: the central area adorned with niches, women's galleries and is topped by a dome. The wall paintings extant in San Lorenzo are extremely important, as they are among the few examples of Roman painting left in Milan. In the galleries the motifs created by marble intarsia as wall decoration were repeated in frescoes of the 4th century, though the most beautiful is the mosaic work in the upper hollows of the two end niches, which belong to the late 4th-early 5th century. Judged among the finest examples of Roman mosaics extant in Northern Italy, these, portraying Christ and the Apostles and the Abduction of Elijah, are outstanding for their bright colours and vivacious naturalism.

Useful information

Telephone: 02/89404129
E-mail: sanlorenzomilano@hotmail.com
Open: 7:30-12:30 14:30-18:45

Links

Official website

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