San Lorenzo Church

San Lorenzo Church (St. Lawrence): A Centuries-Long Architectural Masterpiece

The construction of San Lorenzo Church (St. Lawrence) began in 1775, but the project was abruptly halted after only two years due to a lack of funds following the death of its primary benefactors. Work did not resume for nearly a century, finally reaching completion in 1894. The final design was entrusted to architect Parrocchetti, who moved away from the original, more elaborate plans of Carlo Colombo. This imposing structure features a striking eclectic blend of Neo-Romanesque and Neo-Gothic styles. Inside, the church is adorned with magnificent frescoes by painter Luigi Tagliaferri, who worked between 1906 and 1910 to complete the intricate paintings of the choir and the vaulted ceiling.

The architecture of San Lorenzo Church

When the ancient parish church was demolished in 1892, several of its historical treasures were carefully relocated here. Among these is a notable painting depicting the Madonna presenting the Christ Child to Saint Anthony of Padua, surrounded by a crown of angels. This work was commissioned by Don Carlo I Mainoni, the feudal lord of Villa Mainona, who also funded the church's exquisite black-marble altar with its distinctive twisted columns. Other historic pieces include an oil painting of Saints Anthony Abbot, Roch, and Sebastian, framed by a gilded wooden Greek key border from the original Altar of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The artworks preserved in the church

The Neo-Gothic altar of Our Lady of the Rosary, featuring a restored Baroque wooden statue, was designed by architect Eliseo Fumagalli. In 1925, Fumagalli also designed the monumental steps leading to the church square. The square is home to the War Memorial, a sculpture by Alberti representing Immortality, which was inaugurated on May 25, 1924, to honor those lost in the Great War.