Basilica di San Vincenzo, 1007 AD, Galliano, Italy

The Basilica di San Vincenzo is a church in Galliano, in Lombardy, northern Italy. An example of local Romanesque architecture, it was founded in 1007. The church has a simple and undecorated façade, in rough cobblestones. In the center is a portal with an architrave and an oval lunette. The apse protrudes substantially from the main body. It features an archaic type of Lombard bands, with isolated arches characterized by pilasters that connect them to the ground. There are three windows which give light to the crypt: these are slightly different from those of the nave, due to the presence of a slight internal slope. The only remaining side apse is partly visible at the right. Next to the church is the contemporary Baptistery of St John, which was built at the same time. Its plan is inspired by that of the 9th century Santa Maria presso San Satiro in Milan, although in a simplified form: a cruciform shape with a square hall limited by four isolated columns and four perpendicular arches, and four semicircular niches. The western niche opens to the interior, from which stairs lead to the matronei, which are not present in San Satiro. The interior ends with a dome, externally covered by an octagonal drum with four windows and small arches.

Source:

Glancey, Jonathan. Architecture. London: DK, 2006. PrintWatkin, David. A History of Western Architecture. Sixth ed. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1986. Print.

Watkin, David. A History of Western Architecture. Sixth ed. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1986. Print.