Basilica of Sant'Abbondio

Lake Como is one of those rare places where the human presence enhances nature to the absolute limit, achieving a dream together. The town of Como is an ideal starting point to explore the lake on one of the boats that connect the major towns of the region. The area can also be explored by car on the roads that wind through pine trees and mountains around the lake. The small town of Como boasts magnificent religious buildings among which counts the splendid Gothic Duomo, cladded with a beautiful gray marble, the Romanesque church of San Fidele and of course the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio, which experts say is one of the greatest examples of Romanesque Lombard architecture. Although the structure of the building that we see today corresponds to the eleventh century, the restoration work of the nineteenth century brought to light remains to confirm the tradition that ensures that the basilica was built on the spot of a former Christian temple, dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul. During the second half of the eleventh century Sant'Abbondio was handed over to the Benedictine order ve did not miss the opportunity to rebuild the basilica in a new style that wisely combines the sober character of the first with Lombard Romanesque architectural influences. The building consists of a nave and four sides, covered by a wooden structure. Altitude and verticality that characterizes this construction are due to the two twin towers placed in the area of ​​the apse. The Basilica of Sant'Abbondio stands as one of the finest examples of Italian Romanesque art.