Basilica di San Babila (Basilica of St. Babylas of Antioch), Milan

Basilica di San Babila (Basilica of St. Babylas of Antioch), Milan

Saint Babylas' is Milan's first Christian church and was formerly regarded as the city's most significant one after the Duomo and the Basilica of Saint Ambrose ("Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio). It has been linked to religious and civic movements, including the famous "Five Days of Milan," which brought about the city's temporary liberation from Austrian rule.

Saint Babylas' has been significantly transformed over time, with little remaining of the original building. The current structure underwent major architectural changes between the late 19th and early 20th centuries and features a neo-Romanesque facade with projecting arches and pilasters corresponding to the three naves.

The interior was renovated after 1926 and comprises three naves separated by pillars and surmounted by cross and barrel vaults. The original 11th-century capitals, reminiscent of those found in the Basilica of Saint Ambrose, are of notable artistic value. A fresco in the apse by Luigi Cavenaghi depicts Saint Babylas and three martyred youths, with mosaic overlays created in 1929 by the same author.

Currently, the right lateral chapel, constructed in 1500 to accommodate the Blessed Sacrament, features an altarpiece portraying Saint Francis of Assisi, created by Giuseppe Bertini in the late 19th century, while the lateral chapels house altarpieces by Giuseppe Bertini, Ludovico Pogliaghi, and Augusto Colombo.

Once renowned as a popular gathering place for wealthy Milanese, the Saint Babylas Square still bears reminders of its past through the presence of a few theaters. However, the original clientele no longer frequents the now crowded surroundings.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Milan. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Basilica di San Babila (Basilica of St. Babylas of Antioch) on Map

Sight Name: Basilica di San Babila (Basilica of St. Babylas of Antioch)
Sight Location: Milan, Italy (See walking tours in Milan)
Sight Type: Religious

Walking Tours in Milan, Italy

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Leonardo da Vinci's Masterpieces

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Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest Renaissance artists and polymaths in history, left an indelible mark on Milan through several of his masterpieces created in this city over the nearly 20 years that he spent here.

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Amid the plethora of places to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
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Milan may well be a world fashion capital and one of the financial capitals of Europe, but religion, and particularly churches, are an inseparable part of the Milanese life. Indeed, steeped in history, this city has garnered over the centuries a wealth of iconic places of worship.

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Recognized as one of the world's four fashion capitals, Milan is also a global hub of design and a key tourist destination. The etymology of the name Milan remains uncertain. One theory holds that the Latin name Mediolanum comes from the Latin words medio (in the middle) and planus (plain).

In 286 the Roman Emperor Diocletian moved the capital of the Western Roman Empire from Rome to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Historic Center Walking Tour

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Contained within the area once delimited by the medieval walls, the Centro Storico (historic center) of Milan encompasses the city's perhaps most famous landmarks and tourist attractions. Compact in size, the area is easily distinguishable on the map much as walkable. Here you can find almost everything Milan is famous for, in a close proximity to each other.

The best place to start is...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles

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