BAPTISTRY OF SAN GIOVANNI 

It is the oldest monument in Varese and stands behind the Basilica of San Vittore. Archaeological excavations have brought to light the structures of a first baptistery built in the Lombard age and with a polygonal plan, of which the immersion tank visible in the floor is still preserved. The current building in Romanesque style dates back to the XII-XIII century; it was built at a time when the inhabitants of the town experienced an era of prosperity and decided to "modernize" one of the most important buildings for their community. For the renovation, a large rectangular hall was thought of, followed by a square presbytery, above which there is a gallery of identical dimensions, which overlooks the main space. The tribune, or women's gallery, was reached by climbing a staircase along the north wall, which was closed in 1617 and replaced by a new access via a staircase at the rear of the building. Inside the baptistery there are still numerous frescoes mostly unorganized in a coherent project: the Baptistery in fact was not only a sacred building, but also a place of community gathering, where contracts were stipulated and notarial deeds were drafted and for this reason the most important families of the city competed to decorate it with frescoes representing the Madonna and the most revered saints, often aligning them in disorder or superimposing them on the walls without much attention to a coherent project. For example, the Perabò coat of arms is still visible on the women's gallery next to the figure of Sant'Andrea. The quality of the paintings is also very discontinuous: alongside some notable frescoes attributed to the Master of the Fissiraga tomb (two holy bishops, crucifixion) there are decidedly more naive works, such as the Adoration of the Magi, attributed to the master of Corzoneso. However, most of the frescoes are the result of local workshops that made the requested image of the Madonna or saint on commission. On the other hand, the altarpiece by an artist from Spanzotti is of great value: it depicts a Madonna del Latte enthroned between Saints John the Baptist, titular of the Baptistery, and San Vittore, titular of the basilica.