Basilica of San Fedele
The square outside San Fedele used to be Como's corn market, and on Saturday mornings it still draws a crowd — antiques dealers, locals with coffee, the occasional tourist who wandered off the lakefront. The basilica at its edge is easy to walk past if you're moving quickly, which would be a mistake.
Step through the Portale del Drago — a Romanesque portal carved in the 11th and 12th centuries with bas-reliefs of dragons and biblical scenes — and the city noise drops away. The thick stone walls hold the cool, and barrel-vaulted ceilings frescoed by Domenico Caresana and Francesco Carpano pull the eye upward before your eyes have fully adjusted.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to time it for a weekday midmorning, when the light through the 1509 rose window is at its most direct and the church is nearly empty. The right transept's gilded 17th-century Madonna is easy to overlook on a first visit — worth doubling back for.
The story behind Basilica of San Fedele
A Christian church stood on this site as far back as the 7th century, dedicated to Saint Euphemia. The Romanesque structure you see today dates from 1120, the same year its square bell tower was first raised. In 964, the relics of San Fedele were transferred here; a collegiate chapter followed in 1070. The bell tower fell in an earthquake and was rebuilt in 1271, with its upper section reconstructed again in 1905.
The facade is largely the work of architect Antonio Giussani, who reconstructed it in a Neo-Romanesque style in 1914, though he preserved the original Renaissance rose window of 1509 at its centre. Inside, the marble sarcophagus beneath the 14th-century high altar still holds the relics of San Fedele. A chapel added in 1807 commemorates Blessed Pope Innocent XI, a native of Como.
Good to know
Free entry; plan for 20–40 minutes. Closed Monday mornings; otherwise open roughly 8:30–12:00 and 15:30–19:00, though hours vary — check before you go. A 15-minute walk from Como San Giovanni station through the medieval centro brings you here without a taxi.
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What travellers say about Basilica of San Fedele
If you are exploring the historic center of Como, you have to stop at this Basilica. It’s much smaller than the Duomo but carries a much more ancient and mystical energy. The Romanesque architecture is beautiful, and the interior is filled with impressive frescoes and a stunning wooden ceiling that makes the space feel very warm. I was particularly struck by the detail in the side chapels and the artwork around the altar. It’s a quiet place where you can really appreciate the history of the city away from the tourist crowds. The square outside is also very charming and perfect for a slow afternoon. A true local treasure.
Spectacular but like much of Lake Como you need a guided tour to better appreciate and help interpret, understand the art, history, architecture and the hidden stories behind the basilica. If only the basilica could speak to tell you it’s story! I love doing guided tours.
Stunning basilica in Como. Beautiful architecture. Really enjoyed the beautiful decor on the inside with painted ceilings and beautiful statues. The highlight at Christmas time is the light show that goes on the front of the Basilica when it gets dark outside. It was stunning. We sat outside and watched the amazing light show. We really enjoyed our visit to this church in Como.
A beautiful piece of history and architecture in the heart of old Como. It wasn't very crowded, no waiting line to enter. A well maintained/preserved Basilica which is small museum. A must-see in Como.
Historical Romanesque church among the oldest in Lombardy. It sits in a beautiful piazza but unfortunately the facade was heavily remade in the early 1900s when it was renovated. But do go and visit the sides and the back with the beautiful "porta della rana"
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