Colonne di San Lorenzo, Ancient Roman colonnade near Basilica San Lorenzo, Milan, Italy
The Colonne di San Lorenzo is an ancient Roman colonnade from the 2nd century featuring sixteen Corinthian columns made of marble with decorative capitals. The structure stands in front of the Basilica San Lorenzo and forms a distinctive part of the square where people move through.
The columns were originally built as part of a 2nd-century pagan temple and later removed during the 4th century. They were then transported to their current location in front of the newly built Christian basilica to enhance its entrance.
The square in front of the columns serves as a popular meeting place, especially in the evenings when groups gather to spend time together. The structure itself connects visitors to the early Christian era, when these pieces were deliberately relocated to honor the new basilica.
The site is centrally located and easily accessible by public transportation, with several tram lines nearby. The surrounding square is open and walkable, with many shops and restaurants around it where you can stop and rest.
The columns actually come from two different Roman buildings and have varying heights and capital styles. To level them and make them appear uniform, brick additions were placed underneath some of them, a practical solution from ancient times.
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