COLONNE DI SAN LORENZO

Description

Essentials about the Colonne di San Lorenzo in brief

If you want to discover traces of ancient Milan, you should have seen the Colonne di San Lorenzo (Colonnade of St. Lawrence). The colonnade of 16 Corinthian columns is a unique testimony to Roman architecture and, together with the Basilica di San Lorenzo behind it, a popular photo motif. In addition, the colonnade is a popular meeting and starting point for entering the nightlife in the surrounding bars and restaurants.

The history of the Colonne di San Lorenzo

The Colonne di San Lorenzo is one of the few testimonies of Milan from the Roman period that has survived the destruction of the city in the following centuries. The colonnade is 16 tall Corinthian columns arranged in a row. The columns were probably the supporting structure of a temple or a thermae in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, and were moved to their present location opposite the Basilica di San Lorenzo in the 4th century (hence their name).

Today there is an open square between the church and the colonnade. However, this was not always the case. Until 1935, the basilica was completely surrounded by old houses. During the restoration of the church and the bombardments of World War II, all the surrounding houses were demolished. The ensemble of the Basilica di San Lorenzo and the Colonne di San Lorenzo is therefore a popular photo motif today.

Going out at the Colonne di San Lorenzo

However, the Colonne di San Lorenzo are not only worth a visit from a historical-architectural point of view, but also a popular meeting place for the younger Milanese. On the square in front of the church many Milanesi start into the nightlife of the city. Around the colonnade there are many bars, pubs and restaurants, which is why an aperitif in front of the beautiful backdrop of the Baslica and the Colonne di San Lorenzo is very popular.