Basilica of San Giovanni in Conca

In the center of Piazza Missori there are still visible remains of the ancient Basilica of Saint Giovanni. This church was most probably built in the 4^th century. It was reconstructed in the 11^th century and rebuilt again in the 13^th century after it was destroyed by Frederick I, known as Frederick Barbarossa, in 1162. A bell tower 24 meters high was added to the basilica.

During the Austrian rule in the 18^th century it was deconsecrated and afterwards during the French rule it was even turned into a warehouse. Then, in 1879, in order to make room for a new street (the current Via Mazzini) the church was cut short. Finally, in 1949, the church was demolished and the facade was sold off to Waldensians (a Protestant Christian movement). The Waldensians incorporated the façade into their new church which still stands just a few streets away from Piazza Missori in Via Francesco Sforza.
Nowadays, there is just a small part of this church visible on the square, but underneath the wall there is the entrance to the crypt which can be visited and is the only example of an original Roman crypt in Milan.

The Ticket Price for San Giovanni in Conca
The entrance to San Giovanni in Conca is FREE of charge

Working hours of San Giovanni in Conca
San Giovanni in Conca is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 5:30 pm.


Interesting facts

• The church was impressive enough to be chosen in the 14^th century by Bernado Visconti (Lord of Milan) and his wife Beatrice Regina della Scala as their final resting place.
• The tombstones of Bernado Visconti and his wife were borrowed from the church and are nowadays exhibited in the Sforza Castle museum.
• In Italian “in conca” means in the valley, and probably it was called this way because there was a depression in the soil.