Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Lake Como

Lago di Como is the third largest lake in Italy. Since Roman times it has been a favorite retreat for aristocrats and rich people. The lake seen from Como, a very busy tourist place in summer. In December it was very peaceful.

Lago di Como is the third largest lake in Italy. Since Roman times it has been a favorite retreat for aristocrats and rich people. The lake seen from Como, a very busy tourist place in summer. In December it was very peaceful.

The "Abbazia di Piona" (= "Priorato di Piona") is not easy to find. It is located on a promontory stretching out into Lake Como, offering panoramic views of the "Lago" and the mountains behind. A church, dedicated to Saint Justina existed in the late 7th century. The ruin of the apse can still be found. Today´s single nave church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, was completed before 1138. The Benedictine priory founded here had ties to Cluny. The cloister was added around 1240. The walls of the cloister still have frescoes. Seen here are saints. To the left is "Saint Catherine of Alexandria", aka "Saint Catherine of the Wheel". www.abbaziadipiona.it/

The "Abbazia di Piona" (= "Priorato di Piona") is not easy to find. It is located on a promontory stretching out into Lake Como, offering panoramic views of the "Lago" and the mountains behind. A church, dedicated to Saint Justina existed in the late 7th century. The ruin of the apse can still be found. Today´s single nave church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, was completed before 1138. The Benedictine priory founded here had ties to Cluny. The cloister was added around 1240. The sign reads "Si prega di non scrivere sui muri" - "Please do not write on the walls". Since 1938 Cistercian monks have revitalized the complex, so this is a convent again. In the background workers prepare a stage for the festival "Musica sull'Acqua". www.abbaziadipiona.it/

The "Abbazia di Piona" (= "Priorato di Piona") is not easy to find. It is located on a promontory stretching out into Lake Como, offering panoramic views of the "Lago" and the mountains behind. A church, dedicated to Saint Justina existed in the late 7th century. The ruin of the apse can still be found. Today´s single nave church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, was completed before 1138. Parts of the apse´s frescoe still exist after 800 years. Here are the apostles (St. Peter on the left). Above was a Pantocrator flanked by the symbols of the evangelists. The priory founded here had ties to Cluny. Since 1938 Cistercian monks have revitalized the complex, so this is a convent again. www.abbaziadipiona.it/

The "Abbazia di Piona" (= "Priorato di Piona") is not easy to find. It is located on a promontory stretching out into Lake Como, offering panoramic views of the "Lago" and the mountains behind. A church, dedicated to Saint Justina existed in the late 7th century. The ruin of the apse can still be found. Today´s single nave church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, was completed before 1138. Large parts of the apse´s frescoe still exist after 800 years. The priory founded here had ties to Cluny. Since 1938 Cistercian monks have revitalized the complex, so this is a convent again. www.abbaziadipiona.it/

The "Abbazia di Piona" (= "Priorato di Piona") is not easy to find. It is located on a promontory stretching out into Lake Como, offering panoramic views of the "Lago" and the mountains behind. A church, dedicated to Saint Justina existed in the late 7th century. The ruin of the apse can still be found. Today´s church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, was built later, but was completed before 1138. The priory founded here had ties to Cluny. Since 1938 Cistercian monks have revitalized the complex, so this is a convent again.

Gusmeo and Matteo, two members of the legendary Theban Legion (led by Saint Maurice) were martyred here. After their relics were found in 1248 a church was built over their tombs. This church was rectangular and was "merged" into the new church, erected in 1533. Here is the former apse.

It is believed, that this place was a "sacred ground" already in pagan times. The neighbouring Santa Maria del Tiglio was erected within the 11th or 12th century on foundations of a baptistery, that may date back to the 5th or 6th century. S. Vincenzo, the parish church, is a Romanesque structure with a baroque interior. It was as well built on already existing foundations. The large crypt under the choir of S. Vincenzo is pretty unmodified and dates back to the 11th/12th century. The apse, that once existed, got bricked up, but there was a little opening (and a light switch), so I could enter the apse and find that there had been frescoes as well. There was even another opening to a kind of tunnel, but there was an alarm system..

It is believed, that this place was a "sacred ground" already in pagan times. The neighbouring Santa Maria del Tiglio was erected within the 11th or 12th century on foundations of a baptistery, that may date back to the 5th or 6th century. S. Vincenzo, the parish church, is a Romanesque structure with a baroque interior. It was as well built on already existing foundations. The large crypt under the choir of S. Vincenzo is pretty unmodified and dates back to the 11th/12th century. The apse, that once existed, got bricked up.

It is believed, that this place was a "sacred ground" already in pagan times. The neighbouring Santa Maria del Tiglio was erected within the 11th or 12th century on foundations of a baptistery, that may date back to the 5th or 6th century. S. Vincenzo, the parish church, is a Romanesque structure with a baroque interior. It was as well built on already existing foundations. The large crypt under the choir of S. Vincenzo is pretty unmodified and dates back to the 11th/12th century.

It is believed, that this place was a "sacred ground" already in pagan times. Santa Maria del Tiglio (Tiglio = lime tree) was erected within the 11th or 12th century on foundations of a baptistry, dedicated to John the Baptist, that may date back to the 5th or 6th century. This baptistery had been built on the plan of a "triconchos", it had three apses in clover-leaf shape (see: "Como - San Fedele"). Santa Maria del Tiglio was erected on the same design, it is as well a "triconchos". The walls were probably covered with frescoes, some of the can still be seen, after the baroque interior had been removed during the restoration of the church. The frescoes were created in different times - and so they differ in style. These ladies were probably painted early 13th century.

It is believed, that this place was a "sacred ground" already in pagan times. Santa Maria del Tiglio (Tiglio = lime tree) was erected within the 11th or 12th century on foundations of a baptistry, dedicated to John the Baptist, that may date back to the 5th or 6th century. This baptistery had been built on the plan of a "triconchos", it had three apses in clover-leaf shape (see: "Como - San Fedele"). Santa Maria del Tiglio was erected on the same design, it is as well a "triconchos". The walls were probably covered with frescoes, some of the can still be seen, after the baroque interior had been removed during the restoration of the church.

It is believed, that this place was a "sacred ground" already in pagan times. Santa Maria del Tiglio (Tiglio = lime tree) was erected within the 11th or 12th century on foundations of a baptistry, dedicated to John the Baptist, that may date back to the 5th or 6th century. This baptistery had been built on the plan of a "triconchos", it had three apses in clover-leaf shape (see: "Como - San Fedele"). Santa Maria del Tiglio was erected on the same design, it is as well a "triconchos". The walls were probably covered with frescoes, some of the can still be seen, after the baroque interior had been removed during the restoration of the church.

It is believed, that this place was a "sacred ground" already in pagan times. Santa Maria del Tiglio (Tiglio = lime tree) was erected within the 11th or 12th century on foundations of a baptistry, dedicated to John the Baptist, that may date back to the 5th or 6th century. This baptistery had been built on the plan of a "triconchos", it had three apses in clover-leaf shape (see: "Como - San Fedele"). Santa Maria del Tiglio was erected on the same design, it is as well a "triconchos". The walls were probably covered with frescoes, some of the can still be seen, after the baroque interior had been removed during the restoration of the church.

It is believed, that this place was a "sacred ground" already in pagan times. Santa Maria del Tiglio (Tiglio = lime tree) was erected within the 11th or 12th century on foundations of a baptistry, dedicated to John the Baptist, that may date back to the 5th or 6th century. This baptistery had been built on the plan of a "triconchos", it had three apses in clover-leaf shape (see: "Como - San Fedele"). Santa Maria del Tiglio was erected on the same design, it is as well a "triconchos". The facade of the church has some carvings, that seem the be older than 12th century. The deer hunting centaur is a frequent icon. Centaurs either hunt deers - or mermaids.

It is believed, that this place was a "sacred ground" already in pagan times. Santa Maria del Tiglio (Tiglio = lime tree) was erected within the 11th or 12th century on foundations of a baptistry, dedicated to John the Baptist, that may date back to the 5th or 6th century. This baptistery had been built on the plan of a "triconchos", it had three apses in clover-leaf shape (see: "Como - San Fedele"). Santa Maria del Tiglio was erected on the same design, it is as well a "triconchos".

It is believed, that this place was a "sacred ground" already in pagan times. Santa Maria del Tiglio (Tiglio = lime tree) was erected within the 11th or 12th century on foundations of a baptistry, dedicated to John the Baptist, that may date back to the 5th or 6th century. This baptistery had been built on the plan of a "triconchos", it had three apses in clover-leaf shape (see: "Como - San Fedele"). Santa Maria del Tiglio was erected on the same design, it is as well a "triconchos". One of the apses can be seen to the right. Neighbouring to the right is the parish church S. Vincenzo (right), that is probably as old, but got modified around 1600 - and now has a Baroque interior.