Church of Villa

The Church of Santissimo Corpo di Cristo, also known as church of Villa, is located on the main square of the town of Castiglione Olona, in the province of Varese. 

The whole complex declares a clos descent from Brunelleschi's architectural models probably due to the intervention of a Tuscan master active in Lombardy at the time, perhaps Vecchietta, who settled in the city as Masolino's helper.

It can be considered as the first Brunelleschian building outside of Tuscany, not only for a series of stylistic characteristics such as the use of the complete order and the two-colour combination of the stone of the membranes and the plasterwork, but also for the use of construction types such as the herringbone in the dome.

The church as a square body divided on the outside by fluted sandstone pilasters ending in Corinthian capitals. The body is then surmounted by an octagonal drum supporting the hemispherical dome whose roof is supported by sixteen small columns with capitals.

The interior responds to the scheme of the Old Sacristy of San Lorenzo in Florence in terms of architectural proportions and simplicity of decoration. The square plan of the hall is exactly twice the size of the apse, closed by a self-supporting hemispherical vault built with the 'spinapesce' system, slightly flattened at the tops. The walls are emphasised by sandstone pilasters.