Basilica di San Giovanni Battista in Busto Arsizio

The prepositural collegiate basilica of San Giovanni Battista is a Catholic church dedicated to one of the patron saints of the city. It is located at the central square of Busto Arsizio. Like the church of San Michele Arcangelo, this building also stands on the remains of a small Lombard chapel about eight metres wide. It was built to a design by Francesco Maria Richini.,[3] the foundation stone of the new basilica was laid on 26 May 1609, but the first service was not held until 1614, when the work was not yet completed, on the occasion of the patron saint's feast day. From the registers of the Fabrica di S. Giovanni and on the basis of the chronicles of the curate Pietro Antonio Crespi Castoldi, we know that from 1609 to 1613 the bones of the old cemetery near the church bell tower were removed and the perimeter foundations were laid, followed by the construction of the chapel dedicated to Sant'Ambrogio. #trip #italy #church