The main chapel

The architectural lines of the central apse  carry out the Renaissance plan that began just from this apse, erected during the sixteenth century, before the two identical lateral apses at the ends of the transept, erected in the following century.

In 1510 the Bishop was authorised to build by the Duke of Milan. The plan was entrusted to Tommaso Rodari.  Giovanni Antonio Amadeo, the ducal engineer and probably master of the Rodari, attended at the foundation ceremony. They had to be wait until 1519 for the beginning of the construction. Tommaso Rodari’s design was definitely influenced by the Renaissance style with quotes from the Roman architecture of Cristoforo Solari known as Il Gobbo. The building lasted from 1519 to 1596, when Giovanni Antonio Piotti known as Il Vacallo erected the vault. The stucco decoration of the vault was entrusted to Giuseppe Bianchi and Domen ico Fontana, In 1599 the ancient apse, that was contained within the new one, was demolished.

Thus the new Main Chapel was born, that contains the chancel with the high altar, the ambo, the Bishop’s throne and the rear canons’ choir.

The dove symbol of the Holy Spirit, which enlivens the Church, overlooks this space from the top of the vault.

The altar of the Eucharistic celebration is that of the ancient and previous cathedral: dated 1317  , offered by the Archdeacon Valeriano Rusca and consecrated by the Bishop Leone Lambertenghi. It is the work of a Campionese sculptor who represented on the sides of the Crucifixion the two holy nuns Liberata and Faustina. The altar preserves their relics. On the sides of the altar two pairs of saints are of doubtful identification. On the back of the altar a marble slab was placed in 1986 when the Bishop Teresio Ferraroni wanted to reuse this altar-sarcophagus as an altar-table looking at the people.

The relief of the Madonna and Child enthroned reused in the ambo (architect Gaetano Banfi from Milano 1986)   was at the back of the ancient altar between two epigraphs. These are walled up behind the 1728 baroque altar inside which all the marble slabs were placed as relics. The new altar of precious marble  , onyx and gilded bronzes, was designed by the Theatine father Zacaroli in Urbino for the Bishop of Como Giuseppe Olgiati, made in Roma and sent to Como by sea up to Genova, then by land. It was consecrated on 30th October 1729. Candlesticks, silver busts of the Holy Fathers and the cross complete the altar. The expenses were covered by selling silverware and old paraments from the sacristy. A 1283 relief with the Holy Bishop St. Abbondio has been reused in the Bishop’s throne  . 

The choir seats are the work of the woodcarvers Lucini from Cagno (1620). .

The apse niches house 14 neoclassical statues, Jesus, Mary and the Apostles, sculpted by Pompeo Marchesi between 1815 and 1816. 

The central stained glass window depicts the Last Supper (1860). The other windows depicts from left to right the Nativity, The Baptism of Christ, The Sermon of the Mount, the Transfiguration, works by the Bertini workshop between 1863 and 1878, repaired in 1950.

At the entrance of the chapel hangs a grandiose silver lamp, a gift from the Marquis Giacomo Gallio, the work of the goldsmith Amos Somigliana (1698).