La chiesa romanica di Sant'Abbondio a Como: considerazioni sui rapporti tra architettura e spazio liturgico

The paper is focused on the relations between architecture and li-turgical space in the church of S. Abbondio in Como. The aim of the investigation is to read some interventions occurred during the Roma-nesque period in the light of the edifice’s role as local pilgrimage church. In this regard, the article tries to better define the interventions in the presbyterial area, particularly those regarding altars’ dedication and saints’ tombs position, in order to understand how lay people could perceive the internal space. Thanks to some historical sources it has been possible to conjecture a setting which recalls the Frankish so-lution of exposing the tombs post altare. This aspect has lead also to a reconsideration of the choir screen and of the western tribune with the so-called paradisus in front of the façade.