Basilica of San Giovanni Battista, Busto Arsizio

The Prepositural Collegiate Basilica of San Giovanni Battista is a Catholic church in Busto Arsizio, dedicated to one of the patron saints of the city. Like the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, this building also stands on the remains of a small Lombard chapel about eight metres wide. In 1948 the church was elevated to the dignity of minor basilica. The bell tower was constructed from 1400 to 1418, and is the oldest part of the church.

The first mention of the church dates back to 1233, and was under the leadership of a priest named Domenico. Another document, dated 1243, states that the church housed the Confraternity of Sant'Orsola, as well as the burials of the Bonsignori, Crespi, Ferrario, Pozzi, and Rauli families (all still present in Busto Arsizio to this day). The church was expanded at the end of the 13th century. On 29 January 1346, the main altar of the church was consecrated by Brother Francesco, Bishop of Pistoia. A few days later, Don Giovanni de Restagnis, priest of Borsano, consecrated a small chapel adjacent to the church, dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary. The church was decorated in the 16th century. In February 1582, the church was visited by Charles Borromeo, and just one year later, the church became its own pieve, breaking away from the Pieve of Olgiate Olona. Charles Borromeo also appointed Busto Arsizio's first Provost, Ippolito Seta. The church was constructed in a romanesque style, and had three Apses. The church was expanded once more, and the last pastoral visit occurred in 1603, six years before the old church was demolished, when the pieve was visited by Alessandro Mazenta, sent by Federico Borromeo. Plans to demolish and reconstruct the church were approved in 1609.

The current church was designed by Francesco Maria Richini, who would later design the nearby church of San Michele Arcangelo. The first stone was placed on 26 May 1609 by the Provost of Busto Arsizio, Paolo Gerolamo Candiani. Subsequently the bones of the old cemetery (located at the base of the bell tower) were moved to construct the perimeter and the foundations of the new church. Construction began that year, with the construction of the new sacristy and the chapel dedicated to Sant'Ambrogio. In 1610 the apse of the old church was demolished. In October 1612 the construction of the transept had begun, and by 1615 the foundations of the new façade had been laid . On 24 June 1614, in occasion of the Feast of San Giovanni Battista, the Provost, Giovanni Antonio Armiraglio, celebrated the first mass in the new church . Construction of the church continued in March 1622, with the commencement of the construction of the roof. The organ was constructed in 1617, with the previous organ sold to the church of Inveruno . In 1628 construction of the dome began but was abandoned just a year later due to the plague. It was in 1634 that construction resumed, with the construction of the dome concluding probably after 1635 . The construction of the church concluded in the 1640s, and was consecrated by the Bishop of Bobbio, Francesco Maria Abbiati, on 29 July 1646 . In 1948 the church was elevated to the status of Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII. Some renovations were conducted in 1950 . The piazza of the church was one of the sites were the Olympic flame of the 2026 Winter Olympics passed.

Church data from Wikidata (CC0). Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).