Basilica di Sant'Abbondio (Basilica of Saint Abbondio), Como

Discover the Basilica of Saint Abbondio in Como: a striking example of Romanesque architecture and one of the oldest Christian monuments in the Lake Como region. Built between 1050 and 1095 on the remains of a 5th-century basilica dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, the church occupies a site intended to house apostolic relics brought from Rome by Bishop Amanzio. Consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1095, it was rededicated to Saint Abbondio, the fourth bishop and patron saint of Como, whose relics lie beneath the high altar.

Nestled about one kilometre outside the original city walls, this basilica is notable for its unusual façade featuring four projecting salients and twin bell towers at the rear-architectural traits more common to northern Europe than Italy. The vertical emphasis and sculptural decoration-including bas‑reliefs of floral, zoomorphic, and geometric motifs-highlight transalpine stylistic influences brought by Benedictine monks from France.

Step inside and you’re transported into a vast and elegant interior divided into five naves by massive granite pillars and granite‑stone columns with a mixture of simple and Corinthian‑style capitals. The medieval pavement subtly marks the outline of the earlier paleochristian basilica in contrasting marble strips, inviting you to walk in layers of sacred history.

The heart of the basilica is its apse, adorned with a magnificent 14th‑century fresco cycle by the anonymous “Maestro di Sant’Abbondio.” About forty vivid scenes portraying Christ’s life and Passion in the nave’s curved vault and choir area showcase a refined Lombard style influenced by Siena and Umbria. The adjacent medieval cloister-now home to the Law Faculty of the University of Insubria-adds another layer of historic charm, making this church both a spiritual sanctuary and a cultural gem.