Basilica di San Babila (Basilica of St. Babylas of Antioch), Milan

Saint Babylas' is Milan's first Christian church and was formerly regarded as the city's most significant one after the Duomo and the Basilica of Saint Ambrose ("Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio). It has been linked to religious and civic movements, including the famous "Five Days of Milan," which brought about the city's temporary liberation from Austrian rule.

Saint Babylas' has been significantly transformed over time, with little remaining of the original building. The current structure underwent major architectural changes between the late 19th and early 20th centuries and features a neo-Romanesque facade with projecting arches and pilasters corresponding to the three naves.

The interior was renovated after 1926 and comprises three naves separated by pillars and surmounted by cross and barrel vaults. The original 11th-century capitals, reminiscent of those found in the Basilica of Saint Ambrose, are of notable artistic value. A fresco in the apse by Luigi Cavenaghi depicts Saint Babylas and three martyred youths, with mosaic overlays created in 1929 by the same author.

Currently, the right lateral chapel, constructed in 1500 to accommodate the Blessed Sacrament, features an altarpiece portraying Saint Francis of Assisi, created by Giuseppe Bertini in the late 19th century, while the lateral chapels house altarpieces by Giuseppe Bertini, Ludovico Pogliaghi, and Augusto Colombo.

Once renowned as a popular gathering place for wealthy Milanese, the Saint Babylas Square still bears reminders of its past through the presence of a few theaters. However, the original clientele no longer frequents the now crowded surroundings.