page_title: Parco Spina Verde di Como
section_title: Religious buildings
hierarchical_section_title: Parco Spina Verde di Como / Religious buildings
caption_attribution_description: Italiano: Como - Abside della Basilica di S. Abbondio
context_page_description: The Parco Regionale Spina Verde is a regional natural park in Lombardy, northern Italy. It covers a hill ridge overlooking the town of Como, and borders on its northern side with Switzerland. It finds itself in the town territory of Como and the nearby municipalities of Colverde and San Fermo della Battaglia. It was established in 1993 by a Regional Act and is administered by the Region of Lombardy. It takes its name from the elevated ridge upon which it stretches, called “Spina Verde”. The Park Administration is in Villa Imbonati, in San Fermo della Battaglia, co. Como.
  The park is the most important protected natural site in county Como and one of the most popular with visitors in every season
context_section_description: Church of the Holy Lady in Drezzo (Chiesa di Madonna Assunta): this ancient church is sited in a scenic location, on the top of a hill overlooking the village of Drezzo (Colverde). It keeps interesting paintings dated to the 15th century, though the church is certainly older, as show its apse and isle of romanic style.
  San Rocco Church-Painters’ Church (Chiesa di S. Rocco o dei Pittori): Built in 1857 on the remains of an older chapel, it is located on the hillside of the village of Cavallasca. It owes its name to the 14 artists who, in 1978, there painted the scenes of the Passion of Christ.
  Basilica di San Carpoforo: probably the most ancient church of Como and among the oldest Christian religious buildings, it is mentioned as back as of 386 AD, when Saint Felix, first bishop of Como, ordered the construction of a church on the site of an ancient Roman temple where, in 311 AD, Saint Carpoforo and his companions had been executed because of their Christian faith. In this church, where Saint Carpoforo and later Saint Felix himself were buried, the very first Christian community of Como was established. A good example of romanic style, its architectural outlay is yet quite peculiar, with the front side facing  the mountain (the entrance is through a small door on the left wall). 
  Basilica di San Abbondio: a masterful example of Lombard late-romanic style, at the southern end of the Park, the Basilica boasts two bell-towers: a common feature in german and french cathedrals but quite unusual in Italy. Built over an ancient proto-christian chapel, on the very side of the once strategic road called “Via Regina” (Royal Way) that linked Como with the swiss mountain passes and northern Europe, the Basilica was built in 1095 AD and refurbished and retouched several times after. The impressive entrance gates with their extensive carvings are considered a masterpiece of the famous “Magistri Comacini” (Como’s Craftsmen); the apse shows important paintings of the life of Christ, dated 13th century.
  Oratorio dei Santi Cosma e Damiano (Shrine of Saint Cosma and Saint Damiano): a small church close to the nearby Basilica of Saint Abbondio, was built on the vault of a pagan temple and long used as a place of healing for the sick and the wounded. Today it is an exhibition space, and hosts several events around the year.
caption: the St. Abbondio Basilica,a jewel of Lombard romanic, built in 1095
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