Dome

View of the 12th century ciborium; The church is a foremost representative of Lombard Romanesque architecture, with an early example of rib vaulting in Italy. It served as the model for a large number of Italian churches, even in such distant regions as Apulia. The basilica martyrum, the predecessor of the present church, had probably been started when St. Ambrose (ca. 339-397) was appointed bishop in 374. Ambrose was buried in the church alongside the relics of SS Gervase and Protasius. This building had an aisled nave with a columnar arcade and an apse; its dimensions were those of the present church excluding the presbytery and choir. The rivalry between monks and canons led to the construction of the canons’ tower between 1128 and 1144. In 1196 the fourth bay of the nave collapsed beneath the weight of the lantern, and both were rebuilt with reinforcing arches. Lengthy restoration work in the mid-19th century returned the building to its supposed appearance before the collapse of 1196, and further restorations were undertaken in the 20th century, especially after severe damage in World War II required the rebuilding of the apse, lantern and north aisle. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.oxfordartonline.com/ (accessed 7/14/2010)