The basilica ol San Babila, now squashed in by modern buildings, was, perhaps, built at the end of the Xlth century on the site of another, but older, church founded by St. Lorenzo I between 489 and 511.
It is the best known romantic church in Milan. The sides, left unaltered, have buttresses alternating with arched windows with lintels, and in the octangle tiberium can be seen evident traces of romanesque structures.
The interior has three naves with barrel vaults supoorled on mighty pillars. In the middle of the transcept rises the hemispherical cupola with an octagonal base and conical pendentives.
Traces of some XIVth century frescoes still remain, there are also six of Giuseppe Mentessi’s panels and the altar-piece of a chapel done by Lodovico Pogliaghi.
