| Basilica of Saint Vincent in Prato (Basilica Prepositurale di San Vincenzo in Prato) | |
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 Façade of the church | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Milan |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | National monument |
| Year consecrated | 900 |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Milan, Italy |
 Interactive map of Basilica of Saint Vincent in Prato (Basilica Prepositurale di San Vincenzo in Prato) | |
| Coordinates | 45°27′28″N9°10′26″E / 45.457665°N 9.173869°E /45.457665; 9.173869 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Church |
| Style | Palaeo-Christian |
| Website | |
| Sito ufficiale della Parrocchia | |
The basilica ofSan Vincenzo in Prato is aRoman Catholic church located in Via Daniele Crespi 6, inMilan, region of Lombardy,Italy. The church maintains most of its originalPalaeo-Christian appearance.
The first church was founded by theLombard kingDesiderius in 770, who dedicated it to theVirgin Mary. Later it was entitled toSt. Vincent, when the latter's relics were found in an urn in the crypt, together with those of St. Quirinus andSt. Nicomedes (859) and St.Abundius. The namein Prato derives from its location in the "pratum" (in the field) area owned by bishop Odelpertus.
In 806 aBenedictine convent was added to the church; in the late years of the same century and in the early tenth century the deteriorating church was rebuilt, but with similar appearance. The octagonalbaptistery on the exterior, on the left, was built by architectPaolo Mezzanotte in year 1932, and includes a column-shaped font calledPietra santa (the Saint Stone) coming from the ancient church of S. Nazaro in Pietra Santa, which was demolished in year 1889 during the construction of the newVia Dante.[1]The convent was suppressed in 1520 and in 1598 the church was restored and turned into a parish.
The basilica measures c. 40 m × 20 m (130 ft × 66 ft), and is in brickwork. The interior is on a nave and two aisles with wooden spans ceiling. The columns are from different ages. The elevated choir ends with a large apse. Under thepresbytery is thecrypt, which has also a nave and two aisles divided by ten small columns with sculpted capitals.
San Vincenzo lies on the founding of a Roman temple or oratory built along the way toVigevano probably dedicated toJupiter, which was located within a Romannecropolis (of which some remains are visible in the external left walls of the church).
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