San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore

The San Maurizio complex was founded during the Lombard period, partially incorporating older Roman structures. From these, a polygonal tower, a relic of ancient walls, and a square tower, which was once part of a hippodrome and later served as the church's bell tower, have been preserved.

In 1503, architect Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono conducted a reconstruction of the church, but it was only 15 years later that the construction was finally completed under the supervision of architect Cristoforo Solari. He divided the building into two parts: one for conducting rituals, the other for the housing of nuns.

The monastery was abolished in 1798, and the church became a parish, hence the established division became nominal. In the 19th century, the building was used as barracks, then reequipped as a girls' school, and later it housed a military hospital.

The unassuming gray facade of the building conceals a large number of artistic canvases and magnificent frescoes, which cover the walls, ceiling, and literally every corner of the premises, causing everyone who steps through the threshold to hold their breath in awe.

The facade is clad in Ornavasso gray stone.

Inside, the single nave is vaulted and divided into two spaces by a partition, which separates the space for nuns, who attended mass through a grille, from the space for believers. In both halls, the nave is surrounded by several small chapels, covered with a cylindrical vault, crowned with a serliana loggia.

Both the vault, the side walls, the partition, and the chapels are covered with frescoes from the sixteenth century, showing the influence not only of the Lombard school but also of the Forlì school, particularly Melozzo da Forlì and Marco Palmezzano.

The dividing wall is decorated with paintings by Bernardino Luini (1481-1532), which frame the main altar with the masterful fresco "Adoration of the Magi" (1578) by Antonio Campi above it.

The public hall contains numerous chapels of some noble families of Milan. Their walls and ceilings are adorned with frescoes on biblical themes, painted in 1522-1529 by a group of artists under the direction of Bernardino Luini. The main themes of the paintings are the life of Saint Maurice, Saints Catherine and Agatha, the adoration of the Magi, and the Passion of Christ. The vaults of the church are decorated with an image of the starry sky with evangelists, angels, and Jesus Christ in a crown of thorns.

Fun fact: in the fresco with Noah's Ark, among the animals, there are two legendary creatures: unicorns.

A particular highlight of the monastic hall is the ancient organ, made in 1554 by the famous master Giovan Giacomo Antegnati and has reached our days almost unchanged. Cultural events and high-level concerts take place in the church, for example, as part of the program of the international festival of ancient music "Milano artemusica".