Description of the attraction
The Basilica of Sant Abbondio is one of the most interesting churches in the Italian town of Como, which stands on the shores of the lake of the same name in Lombardy.
The current building of the basilica was erected on the site of a pre-existing Christian church of the 5th century, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul and built by order of the first Bishop of Como, Saint Amantius. Built about a kilometer from the city walls, the basilica was intended to store some relics that belonged to the two main saints of Christendom and which Amantius brought from Rome at one time.
Until 1007 Sant Abbondio served as the See of the Bishop of Como, which Bishop Alberic transferred to the city in 1013. At the same time, the basilica was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Benedictine order, who rebuilt it in the Romanesque style between 1050 and 1095. The new building of the temple was dedicated to the successor of Amantius - Saint Avundy, after whom it was named. In 1095, the basilica, which had a central nave and four side chapels, was consecrated by Pope Urban II.
The remains of an early Christian church, discovered in 1863 during restoration work, can still be seen today - they are highlighted in black and gray marble. In addition, the basilica is notable for two bell towers, towering at the end of the outer chapels. The building's modest façade, once adorned with a covered gallery, has seven windows and a portal. The external decoration of the choir windows deserves special attention. Also worth seeing are Romanesque bas-reliefs and a cycle of mid-14th century frescoes located in the apse. The relics of Saint Avundy are kept under the main altar of the basilica.
The building of the medieval monastery, attached to the church and recently restored, is planned to be given to the Faculty of Law of the local university.
