Colonne and Basilica di San Lorenzo
The Colonne di San Lorenzo (columns of San Lorenzo) constitutes the best known Roman ruin in Milan. Located in front of the San Lorenzo Basilica, the monument is a square with a row of columns on either side. They were extracted from a Roman temple or bath house of the 2nd century Mediolanum (latin for Milan) and placed to the current location in the 4th century. On the south side of the columns, one of the medieval Roman marble gates of the city still remains.
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Up until the 1930s, old houses cluttered the space between the Basilica and the columns, abutting onto the church facade. This urban fabric has been demolished, so that presently, the perimeter of the San Lorenzo columns surrounds a square, adjacent to an urban park.
The sixteen Roman columns are tall and end in corinthic capitels, supporting a red brick architrave. Column front is flanked by redbrick walls with a pointed arch and a round arch gateway. The marble tablet on the wall contains the inscription of Lucius Verus, roman co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius.
They create a monumental curtain and entrance towards the 4th - 5th century byzantine San Lorenzo Basilica. The quatrefoil layout of the church consists of an open central area and a surrounding ambulatory, expressed in 2 stories and 4 semicircular recesses, each featuring 5 arches.
The church has a triple archway entrance and clearly displays its byzantine features, the central layout with a grand dome on octagonal support, and 4 square towers, as well as the typical cluster of adjacent chapels such as the 5th century octagonal Saint Aquilinus chapel, housing precious paleochristian mosaics. One such mosaic is that of "Christ the Lawgiver", depicting Jesus and the Apostles. Also noteworthy is the fresco "The Rediscovery of Saint Aquilinus of Cologne's Corpse", by Carlo Urbino, on the wall behind the main altar. The remains of martyr Saint Aquilino of Milan are housed in this chapel, as well as a 17th century reliquary ark by Lombardian architect Carlo Garavaglia.
Since the original dome of the Basilica San Lorenzo crumbled down, it was rebuilt with a Baroque influence, the lanolin on top.
This urban monument square is popular with students and provides a good social atmosphere for both locals and tourists.
