Rotonda di San Lorenzo in Mantua, Italy

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Rotonda di San Lorenzo in Mantua, Italy

This 11th-century church, the oldest in the northern Italian city of Mantua, was deconsecrated in 1579 and for 300 years was used as a residence and retail space. Then, in the early 20th century, it was restored and re-established as a holy site. Luckily, many of the frescoes within were left intact so a visit to the Rotonda di San Lorenzo offers a glimpse of what the church looked like in its original state.