In 1552 a cornerstone was laid. It marked the beginning of the Chiesa parrocchiale di Sant’Angelo. This wasn’t just any church. It was a testament to faith resilience and artistic brilliance.
The original Sant’Angelo stood near the Martesana canal. It was demolished in 1551. The Spanish governor Ferrante I Gonzaga ordered its replacement. He wanted a grander structure befitting Milan. The new church rose from the ashes. It was designed by Domenico Giunti a trusted architect of the governor.
Construction took decades. The facade was incomplete in 1584. It was finally finished around 1630. The church boasts a single nave. Side chapels flank the nave. A barrel vault covers the entire space. A large transept leads to a deep presbytery. Nineteenth-century restorations largely bypassed Sant’Angelo. It remains largely intact in its Mannerist and Baroque splendor.
Nineteen chapels adorn the Chiesa parrocchiale di Sant’Angelo. Each chapel bears witness to centuries of devotion. Wealthy families and guilds commissioned their decorations. These exquisite works range from the 16th to the 20th centuries. The radiant sun with the IHS monogram is a recurring motif. It symbolizes Christ and honors St Bernardino da Siena.
Let’s peek into a few of these chapels. The Gallarati Chapel initially housed a Gaudenzio Ferrari masterpiece. This painting depicting Saint Catherine is now at the Pinacoteca di Brera. The chapel features later works by Antonio Campi. They showcase strong light and shadow contrasts. In the chapel of St Charles Borromeo admire the Morazzone’s 17th-century painting. It depicts the saint ascending to heaven surrounded by angels.
The Porrone Chapel is a treasure trove of Fiammenghino’s artistry. His frescoes depict the life of St Francis. The Procaccini brothers left their indelible mark. Camillo Procaccini’s frescoes grace the presbytery and several chapels. His exquisite work includes the Assumption of Mary. His brother Giulio Cesare Procaccini painted a Nativity in the Rococo sacristy. The main altar a Baroque masterpiece of polychrome marble and hard stones was sculpted in 1708 by Giovanni Battista Dominioni.
Even the convent underwent a transformation. The original sprawling structure was demolished. It was replaced in the 20th century with a modern building.
The Chiesa parrocchiale di Sant’Angelo stands as a silent storyteller. It whispers tales of faith devotion and artistic creativity. Each chapel each fresco each sculpture holds a piece of Milan’s rich history. Marvel at its beauty. Let its history resonate within you.