Right here stands San Martino Vescovo e Antonio Abate. This sanctuary whispers tales of faith and transformation. Imagine stepping back to the late 13th century.
Back then a church dedicated to Martin of Tours stood here. It belonged to the parish of Desio. This is according to Goffredo da Bussero’s Liber Notitiæ Sanctorum Mediolani.
The original Ecclesia Sancti Martini was not small. It housed at least two altars. One was dedicated to Our Lady. It resided in a side chapel on the southern side.
Pastoral visits shaped San Martino Vescovo e Antonio Abate. These visits from the mid-16th century onward drove renovations. Father Leonetto Clivone visited in 1567. He found a simple rectangular church with a single nave and a bell tower. Charles Borromeo’s visit in 1579 confirmed this layout.
In 1596 Monsignor Baldassarre Cipolla deemed the church too small. He suggested enlarging it to align with Counter-Reformation ideals. A project by Moneta in 1597 followed. It changed the apse to square and added a polygonal baptistery. The bell tower and sacristy gained connecting doors to the choir. The church maintained its east-west orientation.
Federico Borromeo’s visit in 1604 revealed eight side chapels. The baptismal font had been moved. The apse was reconfigured. A connection linked the chancel and bell tower. However the sacristy was still missing. The church was still considered too small.
Monsignor Antonio Verri’s report in 1745 documented the original single-room layout. The church furnishings had been enriched. A second map in 1758 mirrored the earlier depiction.
In 1856 Don Giovanni Prato commissioned the current bell tower. It soars over sixty metres high. Until 1877 the historic Balsamo cemetery bordered the church. Marquise Cristiana Morosina’s land donations allowed a larger cemetery to be built. It was located southeast of the church.
Major expansions in the early 20th century transformed San Martino Vescovo e Antonio Abate. Under Don Antonio Colombo’s guidance the church gained its Latin cross layout. It now had three naves. The church reached 24 metres wide and 30 metres long. In 1923 the Pio XI oratory was added designed by Oreste Scanavini.
As Balsamo grew, San Martino Vescovo e Antonio Abate became marginal. A new parish church was built in Soncino Square between 1957 and 1961. The old church became a sanctuary in 1978.
During the 2012 earthquake, the crucifix fell from the Virgin statue. The building was declared unfit. Restoration work on the bell tower finished in August 2022. The bells rang again on September 25.
San Martino Vescovo e Antonio Abate stands as a testament to time. Its facade reflects the internal divisions. Statues of Martin of Tours and St Anne adorn the entrances. The bell tower houses five bells. They survived war requisitions due to Don Piero Carcano’s clever hiding.
Inside frescoes by Carlo Farina depict religious scenes. The dome showcases Martin of Tours carried by angels. Sacred furnishings include statues from the demolished church of San Michele in Monza. Relics of St Saturninus lie under the high altar. The tibia of Blessed Balsamo Abate is also preserved here.
The pipe organ built by the Aletti brothers adds to the sanctuary’s beauty. Its tracker action and neoclassical case enhance the space. San Martino Vescovo e Antonio Abate has witnessed centuries of change. It remains a beacon of faith for Cinisello Balsamo.