Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore alle Colonne

Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore alle Colonne

The Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore, with its huge dome is located in Corso di Porta Ticinese, opposite the 16 Corinthian marble columns Colonne di San Lorenzo, which belonged to a temple under the Roman Empire. On the spacious churchyard there is a copy of a bronze statue of the Emperor Constantine.

The church was built between 372 e il 402. In that time the capital of the Roman Empire was moved to Mediolanum (Milan). Ffor the construction of the church materials from the nearby amphitheater were re-installed.

San Lorenzo Maggiore alle
Colonne Milan

The 16 Corinthian marble columns were part of the supporting structure of a building from the 3rd Century, probably it was the spa of the Emperor Massimiliano. The columns were in the 4th Century brought to the present position for the construction of the Basilica of San Lorenzo. In the chapel Sant'Aquilino mosaics can be found from the Roman period.

In the 15th Century, the Basilica of San Lorenzo was heavily modified and newly decorated. With the dome and the four towers, the church has received a Byzantine central layout.

The dome is richly decorated and a historical testimony of Roman paintings, as are the frescoes and decorations in the back of the church.

Visit of the Basilica San Lorenzo

Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore alle Colonne
Corso di Porta Ticinese 39, 20123 Milan (View on the map)

open:

• 7.30 am - 6.45pm

Holy Mass:

• 9.30 am, 11.30 am, 4.00 pm, 6.00 pm