BASILICA OF SAN LORENZO, Interior

If you cross a short hall from the Basilica's façade, you'll find yourself in a very particular space inside. Despite the renovations, the interior still has the same appearance it did during the Roman Empire, as can be seen in the four large recesses that surround the central space. The building materials were partly recycled from a nearby Roman amphitheater, of which you can still see some remains in the archaeological park near the Basilica.

The main thing that differentiates San Lorenzo from the other churches built in Milan in the same period is that it has a central plan, which means it doesn't have any naves. This is basically a square, domed room surrounded by a wide corridor. The upper gallery was reserved for celebrities or women, and for this reason was called the "matroneum", or women's gallery.

There are several chapels around the central building. The most important is the first on the right dedicated to Saint Aquilino. I'd especially like to point out the splendid Roman portal in marble with its vibrant chariot race, reminding us that the Roman circus where the races were held was once located nearby....