Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: matronaeum

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large baptistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time. In the center of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" is a rectangular room, "created" by the four apses, seen from outside. Looking down from the matronaeum on the second floor to one of the four apses.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large baptistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time. In the center of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" is a rectangular room, "created" by the four apses, seen from outside. From the matronaeum on the second floor, women could watch the baptism. The walls look very rough, but there are some traces of plaster and paint.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large baptistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time. In the center of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" is a rectangular room, "created" by the four apses, seen from outside. These rough stairs lead up to the matronaeum on the second floor. Climbing up the stairs I felt like inside a nuraghe, but these megalithic buildings in Sardinia are thousands of years older than the baptistery.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large baptistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time. In the center of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" is a rectangular room, "created" by the four apses, seen from outside. Standing in the center - looking up. Over the eight windows of the upper matronaeum are the four windows of the dome. Additional light comes from a bulb.

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large baptistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time. In the center of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" is a rectangular room, "created" by the four apses, seen from outside. There is an upper matronaeum, from where women could watch the baptism.

It is sure, that a church existed here, before the Rotonda was erected in the early 12th century. This older, probably ruined building could have been originated in Lombard or Frankish times. A little fee opened the locked door (and switched on the lights). The structure consists out of three cylindrical volumes put one above the other. The upper matronaeum, where the nuns once gathered, has eight columns, creating a circular ambulatory. Unfortunately I was not allowed to "explore" the upper floor.