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The Basilica of S. Vincenzo in Galliano.
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The Basilica of S. Vincenzo in Galliano The church was built in the 5th century. The front of the basilica is made of pebbles. In the middle there is a rose window, under it we can see a small window with decorated glasses. The right aisle has been replaced by a stained glass window, because it fell down.
The most impressive work of reconstruction was ordered by Ariberto d’Intimiano, Archbishop of Milan, in 1007. Ariberto came from the feudal family of Intimiano, he was directed to the ecclesiastical career and became the guardian of this church in Galliano, he had to administrate the properties of the church.
The original structure At the beginning the church had only a big nave. When the believers grew in number, it was amplified and two aisles were added. This is the reconstruction of the basilica after the works ordered by Ariberto d’Intimiano.
The presbytery is raised and in the middle there is the altar. In 1980 the floor and the saddle roof were remade.
The Crypt On the right of the altar we can go down to the crypt, a place where you can confess yourself.
The Frescoes The church of San Vincenzo in Galliano has a singular cycle of Romanesque frescoes. They were carried out in two different periods and the oldest, the ones in the biggest apse, were ended in 1007. On the apse, in the centre, there is the image of Christ closed in the polycrome mandorla with one arm up to call his faithful people.
On the left of Christ there is the prophet Jeremiah and on his right the prophet Ezechiel.
The Story of S. Vincent In the lower part between the windows, there is the representation of Saint Vincent of Saragozza's martyrdom. His story can be read from left to right and starts with the capture, the flogging and the martyrdom. Vincent is tied on an incandescent grill, while his warders pour melted fat on his body. The last fresco depicts Vincent's body on the beach and his burial.
As in the past the congregation was divided into two groups, with men on the right and women on the left; the frescoes repeat this division: on the left wall in the nave there are stories about women: Eve with Adam in the upper part, Saint Judith and Saint Margaret. On the right wall, instead, there is the story of Saint Christopher. His enormus image can still be seen in the centre of the wall.
On the right of the altar, there is a parapet. In the centre we can see the image of Virgin Mary with the baby in her arms. On the left of Virgin Mary there is Saint Peter who lifts the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and on the right Saint Paul.
The Baptistry The room has a central nucleus with a square plan delimited by four octagonal pillars which support the women’s gallery and the octaganal tiburium with the dome. On each side there is an apse. In the middle there is a font for baptisms by immersion. Near the church there is the Baptistry dedicated to Saint John and erected in the 11th century. T he walls are made up of fluvial pebbles and mud. The building has two floors, downstairs there is the Baptistry and upstairs a private chapel. It is possible to enter the Baptistry through a pronaos.
Bibliography · Gianni Paini, Galliano Basilica e Battistero, Cassa rurale ed artigiana di Cantù · Depliant: gruppo arte e cultura- Cantù · Gruppo arte e cultura-Cantù, Galliano 1000 anni di storia · www.procantu.co.it/monumenti/galliano/basilicagalliano.htm · www.mondimedievali.net/edifici/lombardia/cantu.htm
Silvia, Giulia, Benedetta, Elena e Giusi
