Others churches : S. Donato, S. Giacomo, S. Francesco of Jesus, S. Provino, S. Bartolomeo, S. Cecilia, S. Giorgio.

HERMITAGE OF SAN DONATO

It was built in the 15th century in an isolated position, half way along the road to Brunate. Its founders were Benedectine monks. It was later passed on to the Franciscans. This hermitage contains a wooden altar, carved in 1.500, frescoes and terra cotta statues dating almost from the same period.











 
 

Built towards the end of the 11th century, until the early 16th century, it was the largest church in Como. The plan included a nave and two aisles, a transpet, a lantern and an apse. The whole was dominated by a façade closed between two towers with its pronaos, framed by a large, high arch. As the cathedral grew larger, the original structure of San Giacomo was greatly modified and the dimensions of the building reduced. The present façade dates from 1.585. The semicircular apse, with its loggia below and its arcade above, is noteworthy, but being closed in by the surrounding houses, it is hardly visible. Its interior is adorned with columns, frescoes and paintings of the 18th century.




EX EX

Originally belonging to a Franciscan monastery, probably built in the 14th century, this church was afterwards demolished and rebuilt in 1.535. In 1.798 it was suppressed together, with the monastery, and turned first into barracks and, then, into a recruiting centre. The present building was restored, in 1.975, and great care was taken to recreate the front porch, with its four columns. Today it is an auditorium and an exhibition centre.

CHURCH OF JESUS
Built in the second half of the 16th century, with the adjoining monastery, this church is characterized by a rich interior, with stuccoworks and gilt decorations (17th and 18th centuries). The vault, designed by G.A. Petrini, is decorated with frescoes (first half of the 18th century).

CHURCH OF SAN PROVINO
This pre-Romanesque church, greatly modified during centuries, offers a bell tower featuring mullioned windows, with one and two lights. Its interior, with a nave and an aisle, contains 17th century paintings attributed to Morazzone.

This 13th century church, rebuilt in the second half of the 16th century and embellished in the 17th century, features a neoclassic facade, designed by S. Cantoni, with eightpillars, probably recovered from a Roman house. The interior, with its late Baroque lines, is enriched with stuccoworks by G.B. Barberini and 17th century frescoes.

Built between 1.050 and 1.075, this church with a nave, two aisles and three apses was greatly modified in the 17th and following centuries. The present, vaguely Baroque façade dates from 1.709. Parts of the original Romanesque structure, namely an external apse, decorated with semi-columns, and pilaster strips, the internal major and minor apses, with frescoes of the end of the 11th and 12th centuries, are still visible. These frescoes have recently been restored and removed in order to be protected from damp while awaiting a suitable setting. Stuccoworks and 17th century frescoes can be seen in the interior.