The Basilica of San Nicolò in Lecco is a building of great historical and architectural importance. It is a neoclassical church designed by Lecco architect Giuseppe Bovara and built during the 19th century. The church stands on the ruins of Lecco’s 13th-century city walls, which makes it even more fascinating from a historical point of view.The basilica is characterized by its majestic neo-Gothic bell tower, a full 96 meters high and known as the "matitone," which towers over the city and is an iconic symbol of Lecco. The façade, on the other hand, features a neoclassical style with a pediment supported by six Corinthian columns, created by architect Antonio Maria Fontana in 1774.The interior of the Basilica of San Nicolò has three naves, with side chapels and a central nave covered with a barrel vault, ending in a semicircular apse. In the center of the nave, we find a splendid dome. The church is rich in remarkable works of art, including frescoes of the Giotto school depicting the Annunciation and the Deposition, as well as a series illustrating the life of St. Anthony Abbot. More recent decorations include ten panels with Gospel episodes by Casimiro Radice (late 19th century) and 14 bronze panels, dated 1969, depicting the Stations of the Cross by Enrico Manfrini, who also made the doors of the Misericordia.One of the oldest parts of the church is the baptistery chapel, which contains a baptismal font dating from 1596. On the walls of the chapel, you can still admire the 14th-century frescoes recovered following restoration work in 1967-68.The Basilica of San Nicolò is dedicated to St. Nicholas, the patron saint of the city of Lecco and of sailors and boatmen. The church houses a statue of the saint, which is celebrated on December 6, with apples and a painting. Another statue of the saint is located directly in the lake near Punta Maddalena, the most exposed spot on the Lecco coast, in front of the monument to Antonio Stoppani.The church also has two pipe organs: one behind the high altar, built in 1974, and one on the choir loft on the counterfacade, built in 1861 by Bosino organ builder Giuseppe Bernasconi, reusing part of the phonic material of the previous Serassi organ.In conclusion, the Basilica of San Nicolò in Lecco is a building of great historical, cultural and religious importance, representing an important landmark for the city and its inhabitants.
