Church of San Lorenzo
Church of San LorenzoVia Moretto, 55, 25121, Brescia (BS)
In Via Moretto, a stone's throw from Piazza Bruno Boni, stands the Church of San Lorenzo.
Today it’s one of the greatest examples of the Baroque in Brescia, but its roots go back much further.
Dedicated to San Lorenzo Martire, it was rebuilt between 1751 and 1761 to a design by Domenico Corbellini, and consecrated in 1763.
THE CHURCH
Its history goes back to early Christian times. There are documents attesting to its existence as early as the 11th century. Over the years, the church changed appearance several times: in the 15th century, and again in the 16th century, when it was enriched with works by great names such as Romanino, Callisto Piazza and Lattanzio Gambara. But it was in the 18th century, with the restyling commissioned by the provost Giovanni Pietro Dolfin, that the building took on its current appearance: majestic, bright, spectacular.
The 20th century and the 2000s also left their mark: restorations, reuse of spaces, new works and a baptistery restored to its former glory.
The tall, slender Baroque façade is divided into two orders, with columns, tympana and statues, including that of the saint to whom the church is dedicated. The interior reveals a single nave, two domes, side chapels and an abundance of light filtering through large windows.
The materials: polychrome marbles, frescoes, stuccoes, and precious altarpieces.
The church has a rich artistic heritage that includes a sumptuous high altar with Giambettino Cignaroli's altarpiece depicting the Martyrdom of St Lawrence, and the remains of bishop-saints Ottaziano and Vigilius. San Lorenzo is one of Brescia's main places of worship, bearing witness to the Baroque in the city and retaining a central role in the religious and social life of the community.
