Basilica di San Vincenzo

Cantù, Italy

The Basilica di San Vincenzo is an rare example of local Romanesque architecture, founded in 1007.

Starting from the 2nd century, the worship of ancient gods such as Jupiter, Minerva and the Capitoline Triad was replaced by the Christian religion, in particular during the evangelization effort of Ambrose in the late 4th century. In the 5th century a Palaeo-Christian basilica, acting as the pieve of Cantù, existed in the site, perhaps with a baptstry. Of this structure, the black and white marble pavement remains in the current edifice's presbytery.

The current church was begun in the 10th century. The basilica was re-consecrated by Aribert, archbishop of Milan, who at the time was likely the hereditary tenant of the edifice: this is testified by the presence of graffitoes under the apse's frescoes, which mention the death of his father, brother and nephew.

Architecture

The church was nearly ruined at the time of archbishop Charles Borromeo (1560–1584). Later it was abandoned and used as peasants' store and lost the small right aisle in a fire. Other sections went lost during the French occupation in the early 19th century, when they were considered of no artistic interest and sold to private collectors. The basilica was acquired by the comune of Cantù in 1909 and restored in 1933–1934.

The church has a simple and undecorated façade, in rough cobblestones. In the center is a portal with an architrave and an ogival lunette. The apse protrudes substantially from the main body. It features an archaic type of Lombard bands, with isolated arches characterized by pilasters that connect them to the ground. There are three windows which give light to the crypt: these are slightly different from those of the nave, due to the presence of a slight internal slope. The only remaining side apse is partly visible at the right.

The crypt, and subsequently the presbytery, are more elevated than in other Romanesque buildings. The crypt has two halls with cross vaults, above which, originally, were two ambons: today only part of the left one remains, with a marble eagle which once supported the lectern.

The church is known for the frescoes which cover the nave's walls and the apse. The latter are likely earlier than the former, as testified by the different style. The apse frescoes show two bands of pictures with animals and vegetable motifs. They are surmounted by a praying Jesus within an almond frame. Jesus is wearing sandals, an uncommon feature of such depictions. He is flanked by two old men, the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, behind whom are the two archangels Michael and Gabriel and two crowds. The lower walls of the apse show a short cycle of stories of St Vincent of Saragossa. The fourth panel features St Aribert offering a model of the church to God: the upper part of this scene is now at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana of Milan.

Next to the church is the contemporary Baptistry of St John, which was built at the same time. Its plan is inspired by that of the 9th century Santa Maria presso San Satiro in Milan, although in a simplified form: a cruciform shape with a square hall limited by four isolated columns and four perpendicular arches, and four semicircular niches. The western niche opens to the interior, from which stairs lead to the matronei (tribunes in the upper floor), which are not present in San Satiro. The interior ends with a dome, externally covered by an octagonal drum with four windows and small arches.

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Details

Founded: 1007
Category: Religious sites in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Fabio Casalini (6 months ago)
The monumental complex of Galliano includes the basilica of San Vincenzo and the baptistery of San Giovanni Battista located at the top of a hill in the urban area of ​​Cantù. The photographs refer to the church of San Vincenzo. It is one of the best-known monuments of Lombard Romanesque art. We are at the beginning of the 11th century.
Kristina Despot (14 months ago)
Beautiful and peaceful building undiscovered by tourists.
Stefano Masnaghetti (2 years ago)
It is a monumental complex of enormous historical and artistic importance, which testifies to the transition from early medieval architecture to the properly Romanesque one. The Basilica of San Vincenzo was built between the 10th and 11th centuries on the site of a previous early Christian church dating back to the 5th century. The new building was reconsecrated by Ariberto da Intimiano in 1007. In its millennium of life it survived countless events: it fell into total abandonment in the second half of the eighteenth century, was used as an agricultural warehouse, and due to a fire it lost the right nave. The restorations began only in the last century, after the municipality of Cantù regained ownership of the basilica in 1909, and continued on several occasions until 1981. The frescoes inside are of great value, also dating back to the 11th century. Those in the apse basin are contemporary with Ariberto's consecration in 1007, and among the very first in northern Italy to show the figure of Christ Pantocrator inscribed in an iridescent mandorla. Those on the walls of the central nave are slightly later, and show Byzantine influences. The frescoes located above the right entrance to the crypt, which represent the Madonna and Child in the middle of a row of saints, date back to the end of the 13th century. The Baptistery of San Giovanni Battista, built at the same time as the basilica, is unique in its shape. A rectangular entrance leads to the quatrefoil structure with a cruciform plan of the actual baptistery, arranged on two floors: two narrow staircases lead to the women's galleries on the upper floor, concluded by a dome with an octagonal lantern. Seen from the outside it gives the impression of a building from another world. The almost total absence of the typical Romanesque decorations both in the church and in the baptistery, such as hanging arches, loggias with blind arches, portals with worked capitals and the like (only the apse is decorated with barely visible small blind arches, punctuated by pilasters, and some capitals simple workmanship can be admired in the crypt), increases the bare and archaic charm of this rough gem of pure medieval art.
antonella riva (2 years ago)
Beautiful Romanesque style basilica built around the 11th century and later modified several times. Inside there are useful and detailed panels that illustrate its long history and explain the remains of the frescoes visible today. Unfortunately, only fragments of the frescoes remain but with the explanations it is easy to imagine the splendor they must have had in the past. The nearby Baptistery is also worth a visit. The area where the complex stands, on a hill, has been very well arranged with well-kept greenery.
Monica Naldi (3 years ago)
Medieval basilica and baptistery, 11th century, of great beauty. After the initial visual difficulty, the frescoes spread over several walls cannot fail to conquer for their originality and antiquity.
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