Leone di Piazza S. Babila

Piazza San Babila

About

In Piazza San Babila, in front of the church of the same name, there is a tall column in sandstone on the top of which a famous lion was put in 1656, as request by the Duchy of Serbelloni. The Medieval emblem of the Porta Orientale district, this lion is the subject of a popular legend, according to which it was stolen from the Venetians during a siege. Apparently, the Ventian soldiers, after hearing the noise made by a baker of Milan during his nighttime work, thought that they had been discovered by the city's soldiers, and they abandoned their hiding places. In doing so, they revealed themselves to the Milanese, who had time to arm themselves and defend the city. After the victory, the Milanese took their standards and weapons, along with the lion, a copy of the one from St. Mark's, which was the Venetians mascot.

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