A curious crucifix. That’s how the legend of Chiesa di San Marco al Bosco begins. Right here in the Parco delle Risaie this small devotional church stands. It’s a captivating sight almost an island when the rice paddies flood in spring.
Chiesa di San Marco al Bosco or San Marchetto as it’s affectionately known has a long history. Records show its existence as early as the late 1300s. It’s mentioned in the Liber notitiae sanctorum mediolani a catalog of churches in the diocese at that time.
The story goes that its construction is linked to a miraculous wooden crucifix. This crucifix is still preserved within the church. Legend says that the horses used for plowing refused to work near where the crucifix was found. This spot is where the church now stands. The crucifix was placed in veneration.
The church’s rectangular structure with a semicircular apse is unique. It’s raised slightly from the surrounding land. This isn’t artificial. It’s the original ground level the same level as the Cascina S Marchetto nearby. The surrounding land was lowered in the early 20th century. This was because of clay removal for nearby brickworks.
The name San Marco might be connected to the Augustinian hermits of the Convent of San Marco in Milan. In the second half of the 1200s these hermits acquired the surrounding farmland. They may have built the church perhaps even a small convent for some friars.
Chiesa di San Marco al Bosco is more than a simple church. It’s a testament to faith and perseverance. It’s a reminder of a time when simple events could have a profound impact on the lives of the people. The church stands in testament to those simple beginnings and the strength of the community that built and preserved it for centuries. It’s a living piece of Milan’s history a treasure waiting to be explored.