Guide to Milan. Religious sites in Milan, Italy

Religious Sites in Milan

Milan has its share of religious sites with the largest cathedral being the Duomo di Milano situated in the city's central square. It was built in a late Gothic style by Gian Galeazzo Visconti in 1386, but was not fully completed until 1960. The Duomo features a forest of spires and marble pinnacles and pillars all woven together with a web of flying buttresses. Above the altar there is a nail that is said to have come from Christ's cross. The view from the rooftop is truly excellent and one not to be missed. Another site to behold is the Santa Maria delle Grazie, the home of the famous da Vinci masterpiece 'The Last Supper'. It also has a spectacular apse and dome, a tranquil courtyard and several interesting chapels. The Basilica of St Ambrogio is considered to be one of Milan’s most important religious sites. It is one of Milan’s oldest having been constructed by Bishop Ambrose between 379 and 386, in a part of the city where many Roman martyrs were buried. Also worth seeing is the Jesuit church San Fedele, the San Babila and the St Angelo.

Santa Maria delle Grazie, by Daniel Hou

Santa Maria delle Grazie
Address: Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie 2 Phone: +39 2 8942 1146
Website: http://www.cenacolovinciano.it/
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 08:00-18:30
The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, home to Leonardo’s ‘Last Supper’, since 1980 has been included into UNESCO’s World Heritage. The Italian architect Donato Bramante (1444-1514) built Santa Maria delle Grazie. The complex of church and convent, coupled with the ‘Last Supper’ which can be found in the Refectory, are representations of Milan’s humanistic Renaissance art. They are pieces of a great architecture and painting, which have formed the beginning of a new era in the history of European art.
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Santa Maria in San Satiro, by il Presbite

Santa Maria presso Santa Satiro
Address: Via Speronari 3 Phone: +39 2 87 4683


Santa Maria presso San Satiro is one of the most famous churches in Milan. It was established at the same place where a previous church dedicated to Saint Satyrus was erected in the 9th Century. Today there are only small remnants of the original building. The current church was built in the 15th Century and is considered as one of the best works of Bramante. However, according to some new found events, the main architect of the basilica was Giovanni Antonio Amadeo, who also designed the façade. The interior include the original choir-stall, beautiful chapel della Pieta with a Greek cross, put into a cylinder by Bramante. There are impressive terracotta decorations in the sacristy and dome, work of famous Agostino de Fondulis. The bell tower is still in its original appearance, in Romanesque style, dating from the end of the 15th Century.

Milan Duomo, by Zunkkis

Duomo Cathedral in Milan
Address: Piazza del Duomo Phone: +39 2 8646 3456 e-mail: museo@duomomilano.it
Website: http://www.duomomilano.it/

Situated in Piazza Duomo, Milan’s main square, Duomo is famous as one of the largest Catholic cathedrals in the world, second only to the Cathedral of Seville. It is 157 meters long and has space for 40,000 people. The American writer and journalist Mark Twain, impressed by the edifice’s grandeur, included a rapturous description of the Duomo Cathedral in his ‘Innocents Abroad’. Today this Gothic cathedral still stands as the symbol of Milan and arguably its most renowned landmark that continues to awe travellers with its timeless beauty.
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Basilica di S. Ambrogio
Address: Piazza Sant'Ambrogio 15 Phone: +39 2 8645 0895 e-mail: segreteriaparrocchiale@tin.it
Website: http://santambrogio-basilica.it/

The basilica of St Ambrogio is an emblematic church of Milan. Built on the tombs of St Gervasio and St Protasio, it dates back to the end of the 4th Century. Later an altar and a monastery were built on this site. During the 8th Century it was mainly renovated by the Benedictines and an atrium was added. In the 12th Century the Canonici bell tower was built. The monastery features an amazing façade, one of the best examples for the Lombard Romanesque architecture. The interior consists of a long body with three aisles which open on the secondary spaces and impressive chapels. They were built in the end of the 15th Century. The marvellous cloister and the convent are work of the famous Donato Bramante. Inside there are a few interesting sights, such as the ciborium, the gold altar and early Christian mosaics.

Santa Maria degli Angeli
Address: Piazza Sant' Angelo 2 Phone: +39 2 2900 3401


The Santa Maria degli Angeli or Sant'Angelo was established in the middle of the 16th Century, commissioned by Minor Franciscans. The church was built by Ferrante Gonzaga, following the design of Domenico Giunti. It replaced the previous edifice, standing there in the 15th Century. The façade of the church is very impressive, designed in late-Mannerist style dating from 1630. It has a single nave with beautiful side chapels. Worth seeing are the art works by Gaudenzio Ferrari, Antonio Campi, and Simone Peterzano. An impressive triumphal arch with frescoes depicting the Coronation of Mary is a masterpiece of Stefano Maria Legnani. The church is of great importance for the Franciscan order. It was renovated in 1940-1945 by Giovanni Muzio.

S. Eufemia
Address: Piazza Sant' Eufemia Phone: +39 2 8645 1154


The St Eufemia is considered to be one of the oldest places of worship in Milan. It was established before the 9th Century by the Archbishop S. Senatore. The most impressive highlights of the church are the paintings by the Leonardo’s school. The building was completely rebuilt in the end of the 19th Century.

S. Eustorgio
Address: Piazza Sant'Eustorgio 1 Phone: +39 2 5810 1583 e-mail: parrocchia@santeustorgio.it
Website: http://www.santeustorgio.it/
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 08:00-19:00
Just outside the Medieval city walls of Milan, near the road passing from Pusteria to Porta Ticinese stands the lovely church and monastery complex of S. Eustorgio. In the past it was famous as the Holy Land, because there was placed the tomb of the Three Magi (Three Kings). It dates back to the 4th Century (according to some sources, it was constructed in the 5th Century) and during the years it has been basically renovated several times. Today still can be seen its Roman shape, as it was built in the end of the 11th Century. It has very wide cross vaults of the central nave, leaning on pillars. The church features impressive chapels, including the Brivio Chapel, dating from 1484 and originally built in Florentine Renaissance style. Later it has been renewed by Torelli. The second chapel was constructed in 1424, in Gothic Lombard style. The Portinari Chapel, built by Florentine banker Pigello Portinari in the 15th Century, is also remarkable. It was known as a chapel for nobility and is a wonderful example for the Renaissance Lombard architecture. Adorned with frescoes, a work of Vincenzo Foppa, it was built in a cube shape with a hemispheric dome decorated with brilliant detail. Worth seeing are the cloisters of the monastery, dating back to the 17th Century.

San Fedele
Address: Piazza San Fedele Phone: +39 2 725 2430 e-mail: fondazionesf@sanfedele.milano.it
Website: http://www.sanfedele.net/

The San Fedele is a late 16th-century Jesuit church. The designer of the project was Pellegrino Tibaldi. The church features a single nave, divided into two spans with columns in granite, built in a style similar to the halls of Roman baths. The façade combines elements of different styles. The altars of the side naves are especially worth seeing. Just on the back of the church there is a tiny chapel with impressive fresco from the 13th Century, depicting a Madonna with a child called ‘Madonna delle Ballerine’.

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