| In 392, St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, found here in the Jewish cemetery the relics of the Martyr Saints Vitale and Agricola from Bolonia and placed them in a small chapel. In 727 the Longobards, after conquering the town, made the shrine their main religious centre in Bolonga. After a period of neglect, the Benedictine Brothers took over at the end of 10th century and started a complete renewal at the beginning of the 11th century. From then on the basilica with its maze of churches, courtyards, chapels, passageways was restored many times. |
