The (most beautiful) churches and cathedrals in Milan
Italy is home to churches unmatched in their splendour. And they deserve all the appreciation they get. That’s why we have made a list with the most beautiful churches and cathedrals Milan has to offer. Most tourists who visit Milan are quick to discover the grand cathedral in the heart of the city, which is an obvious eye catcher. On this list we’d like to showcase some more fascinating churches the city has to offer.
Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore
The Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore is an important church in Milanese history with early Christian architecture. As one of the oldest churches in Italy its construction began during Roman times in the fourth century. During this time Milan was the capital of the Western Roman empire, so this building is often perceived as a treasure from that time. And at that time this ambitious construction project was the biggest centrally planned construction project in the western world.
In front of the basilisks you will find monumental pillars older than the church itself, as they came from the second century and were taken from nearby Roman temples. Additionally you find a bronze statue of Constantine the Great guarding the entrance of the church.
San Bernardino alle Ossa
Behind the Duomo Cathedral in Milan you will find a Baroque church where history has taken an interesting turn. It used to be a cemetery with a delightful church. But as the cemetery in the heart of Milan filled up it ran out of space to store the remains of the people resting there. So the bones had to be moved from their resting place.
Since 1210 the church has a slightly disturbing chapel, or more accurately an ossuary, where the bone remains of local catholics are stored. The walls are decorated with bones and skulls are stacked in artistic cross shapes immortalizing the deceased in a macabre yet intriguing Christian work of art. As the church is centrally located in Milan it’s certainly recommended to pay a visit and see this unique homage to the death.
Duomo Cathedral of Milan and The Last Supper
The main attraction of Milan is the Duomo di Milano, which is the third church in the world when it comes to sheer size. If you say The Cathedral of Milan then people know exactly about which cathedral you are talking about. Located in the heart of the city, with an extravagant design with thousands of statues, you cannot really miss it. As we believe this is a must see in Milan we have described the church on the sightseeing page. Visit the sightseeing page if you want to find out more about this landmark building.
Another world renowned church in Milan is the Santa Maria delle Grazie. This church is home to one of the most famous paintings in the world, as the master Leonardo Da Vinci himself has painted his masterpiece The Last Supper on the walls. On the sightseeing page you will find more about this piece of world heritage.
San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
The church of San Maurizio is one of the more charming churches in Milan. Insiders often refer to it as the Sistine Chapel of Milan, which is a reference to the abundance of impressive 16th century frescoes by the renaissance painter Bernardino Luini, who was a cohort of Leonardo Da Vinci, that cover the interior. The cultural tourist will appreciate this hidden jewel depicting religious scenes and figures that cross all sides of several chapels.
Visiting this church gives a nice insight in the Catholic tradition of combining religion with unmatched visual arts. Besides the beautiful frescoes in which you can immerse yourself you will also find other treasures such as the 16th century organ of the church, which is considered the oldest organ in Milan.
Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio
The Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio is church with close historical ties to the city of Milan. This large complex is named after the city patron and former bishop of Milan Saint Ambrose, who had started the construction of this building in the fourth century. It is a Romanesque church defined by its two bell towers and it’s unusual early Christian facade.
Inside you will find its characteristic golden altar with a fourth to eighth century mosaic portraying Christ behind the altar. Another feature you will find is the marble sarcophagus of Flavius Stilicho which has not moved since the fourth century. Delving deeper into the church you will discover it has a 9th century crypt on display which houses several saints, including saint Ambrose himself with his artistic treasure trove and the tomb of Louis II of Italy.
Santa Maria San Satiro
The Santa Maria San Satiro is a 15th century church which showcases some impressive renaissance design. There used to be a very basic church from the 9th century on this spot, but after a miracle happened, in which a painting started to bleed, they decided to create a new church that stands there today. The church has a white and gold design with three naves.
One of the remarkable aspects of this church, for which we had to put it on this list, is that this small church is home to one of the first optical perspective illusions in the history of art. As there was a road behind the church the architecture had to be restricted in size. So to make the church feel more spacious to give it the stature it deserves a large illusion was drawn behind the altar on the back wall making it appear as if the church is much deeper than it actually is. The apse appears as if it’s almost 10 meters deep, while in reality it extends less than a single meter.
Certosa di Garegnano
The Certosa di Garegnano, also known as the Garegnano Charterhouse, is a fantastically preserved centuries old monastery. The monastery from 1349 is a bit of a hidden gem in the northwestern corner of Milan, which can be reached by taxi or public transportation. It was originally founded by Giovanni Visconti who was then the bishop and ruler of the city.
The inside of the monastery is covered in beautiful frescos, which are paintings on the walls and ceilings from the 16th and 17th century made by famous Italian painters portraying various biblical scenes. Due to the impressive artistry it’s often referred to as the Sistine Chapel of Milan. It’s a stunning place of reflection where people can sink into their thoughts for hours contemplating the Christian imagery that they are seeing.