Como - Sant'Abbondio

Already within the 5th century existed a church here, at that time far out of the city walls of Como. It served at the bishop´s seat upto 1007, when Bishop Alberico moved the seat into the town - and the church entrusted to the Benedictines. The monks, with strong support of Henry II (aka "Saint Henry") rebuilt the basilica between 1022 and 1095.

Pope Urban II consecrated the new basilica in June 1095, about 6 months before he preached the First Crusade on the Council of Clermont.

There are parallels between Sant'Abbondio and cathedrals erected the same time north of the Alps. Henry II was the last emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, who have been powerful sponsors for many churches within the Holy Roman Empire.

The basilica is about 47 m long. The relics of Sant'Abbondio, the fourth bishop of Como and a fighter against heretics, are beneath the altar in the foreground. The church was equipped with a gallery in the west, from where the nobility could follow the sermons. Today the organ is up there.