Lombardy / Lombardia

The "Abbazia di Piona" (= "Priorato di Piona") is not easy to find. It is located on a promontory stretching out into Lake Como, offering panoramic views of the "Lago" and the mountains behind. A church, dedicated to Saint Justina existed in the late 7th century. The ruin of the apse can still be found. Today´s single nave church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, was completed before 1138. The Benedictine priory founded here had ties to Cluny. The cloister was added around 1240. The sign reads "Si prega di non scrivere sui muri" - "Please do not write on the walls". Since 1938 Cistercian monks have revitalized the complex, so this is a convent again. In the background workers prepare a stage for the festival "Musica sull'Acqua". www.abbaziadipiona.it/

The church dedicated to Saint Euphemia replaced an Romanesque structure in the early 17th century. The baptistery to the right was already centuries old at that time. The octagonal "Battistero di San Giovanni Battista" was erected in the 11th century on the foundations of an older baptistery, that had been rectangular, dated to the 6th century.

The octagonal "Battistero di San Giovanni Battista" was erected in the 11th century on the foundations of an older baptistery, that had been rectangular, dated to the 6th century. The "battistero" was locked. I learned, that inside is a "primitive" octagonal baptismal font with a diameter of 1,30m.

The Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is located next to the church of Santo Stefano. The baptistery is a quadrangular building with apses, having an octagonal dome. It dates to the early 11th century. - Off topic: Seveso, place of the 1976 "Seveso disaster" is not even 10 kms south.

The Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is located next to the church of Santo Stefano. The baptistery is a quadrangular building with apses, having an octagonal dome. It dates to the early 11th century. In the 17th century the portal was moved from west to east - and the portal seen here was added.

The Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is located next to the church of Santo Stefano. The baptistery is a quadrangular building with apses, having an octagonal dome. It dates to the early 11th century. I could see the interior of the baptistery, as a very friendly sacristan unlocked the door. Grazie mille! The baptismal font, seen here, was found during recent excavations.

The Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is located next to the church of Santo Stefano. The baptistery is a quadrangular building with apses, having an octagonal dome. It dates to the early 11th century. I could see the interior of the baptistery, as a very friendly sacristan unlocked the door. Grazie mille!

These two buildings, the basilica and the baptistery, here seen as a scale model, are placed in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process, sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II, whom he crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy. It is believed that a small paleochristian church had existed here already in the 5th century. The basilica only has one aisle left, as having been abandoned for centuries, the church was deconsecrated sold and since then used as a farmhouse. In 1835 the right aisle collapsed. When the church got restored in the 1930s it was decided to to rebuild the aisle, but to close the right side by windows. Next to San Vincenco is the "Battistero di San Giovanni", erected the same time as the basilica.

These two buildings, the basilica and the baptistery are in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process, sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II, whom he crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy. It is believed that a small paleochristian church had existed on this hill already in the 5th century. The basilica only has one aisle left, as having been abandoned for centuries, the church was deconsecrated sold and since then used as a farmhouse. In 1835 the right aisle collapsed. When the church got restored in the 1930s it was decided to to rebuild the aisle, but to close the right side by windows. Next to San Vincenco is the "Battistero di San Giovanni", erected the same time as the basilica.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo is in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II, whom he crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy. It is believed that a small paleochristian church had existed on this hill already in the 5th century. The basilica only has one aisle left. Having been abandoned for centuries, the church was deconsecrated sold and since then used as a farmhouse. In 1835 the right aisle collapsed. When the church got restored in the 1930s it was decided to to rebuild the aisle, but to close the right side by windows. The basilica has a raised presbytery and a crypt below. Frescoes must have been on all walls once.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo is in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II, whom he crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy. It is believed that a small paleochristian church had existed on this hill already in the 5th century. The basilica only has one aisle left. Having been abandoned for centuries, the church was deconsecrated sold and since then used as a farmhouse. In 1835 the right aisle collapsed. When the church got restored in the 1930s it was decided to to rebuild the aisle, but to close the right side by windows. There are still many frescoes. Here is the frescoe of the apse.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo is in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II, whom he crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy. It is believed that a small paleochristian church had existed on this hill already in the 5th century. The basilica only has one aisle left. Having been abandoned for centuries, the church was deconsecrated sold and since then used as a farmhouse. In 1835 the right aisle collapsed. When the church got restored in the 1930s it was decided to to rebuild the aisle, but to close the right side by windows. There are still many frescoes.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo is in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II, whom he crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy. It is believed that a small paleochristian church had existed on this hill already in the 5th century. The basilica only has one aisle left. Having been abandoned for centuries, the church was deconsecrated sold and since then used as a farmhouse. In 1835 the right aisle collapsed. When the church got restored in the 1930s it was decided to to rebuild the aisle, but to close the right side by windows. There are still many frescoes.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo is in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II, whom he crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy. It is believed that a small paleochristian church had existed on this hill already in the 5th century. The basilica only has one aisle left. Having been abandoned for centuries, the church was deconsecrated sold and since then used as a farmhouse. In 1835 the right aisle collapsed. When the church got restored in the 1930s it was decided to to rebuild the aisle, but to close the right side by windows. Under the raised presbytery is a semicircular crypt. Frescoes here depict St. Vincent, to whom the church is dedicated.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo is in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II, whom he crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy. It is believed that a small paleochristian church had existed on this hill already in the 5th century. The basilica only has one aisle left. Having been abandoned for centuries, the church was deconsecrated sold and since then used as a farmhouse. In 1835 the right aisle collapsed. When the church got restored in the 1930s it was decided to to rebuild the aisle, but to close the right side by windows. Under the raised presbytery is a semicircular crypt. Frescoes here depict St. Vincent, to whom the church is dedicated. In the center of the crypt are these baroque reliquary shrines.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large bastistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large bastistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large baptistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time. In the center of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" is a rectangular room, "created" by the four apses, seen from outside. Standing in the center - looking up. Over the eight windows of the upper matronaeum are the four windows of the dome. Additional light comes from a bulb.