Basilica of Saint Lawrence

The Basilica of Saint Lawrence is an imposing construction which dates back to between the IV and VI centuries d.C. It bears a Byzantine style which is to be seen both in the architectural planning of the building, and from the bronze statue of Costantino, erected in honour of his edict, and to be found in the Churchyard right after having passed the columns of San Lorenzo.

Sixteen ribbed, marble columns with Corinthian capitals which, it is presumed, belonged to a late-Roman era Imperial building, and were aligned here so as to form a transaction to the imposing, four-doored portico of the Basilica which was being built.

It is thought that for the construction of the Basilica di San Lorenzo, material coming from the close-by Roman Amphitheatre was used.

Upon entrance, one notices that is formed by a single, octagonal area, the same shape of the Chapels with which it merges.

On the right-hand side, the Chapel of Sant'Aquilino, and then in an anticlockwise direction, the Chapel of Sant'Ippolito, and the Sacellum of San Sisto, which is a smaller Chapel that Bishop Lorenzo I had built and which was finished during the VI century.

History has certainly not been kind to this Basilica, and it has undergone many restorations: in 1071, 1103, and 1124, fires damaged the building, it was looted by Barbarossa on June 5th 1573, the dome collapsed and architect Martino Bassi rebuilt it without altering the structure.

The building is buttressed by four towers, one on each corner, following the example of other Byzantine churches.