“Nine hundred and twelve” resonates through the ages. That’s the year some say the Cappella di Santa Margherita first emerged in Milan. We stand near where it once stood. Today, nothing remains of the Cappella di Santa Margherita. It was located at the angle between Via Manzoni and Via Silvio Pellico.
The Cappella di Santa Margherita was originally known as Santa Maria di Ghisone. This name likely honored the founder of the monastery. He belonged to the Ghisoni family. By 1138, it became Santa Maria e Margherita. Eventually, it was simply called Santa Margherita. The nearby street, now part of Via Manzoni, took its name from the chapel.
Documents mention the Cappella di Santa Margherita and its monastery as far back as 963. Ariberto da Intimiano’s will in 1034 also references it. Further mentions appear in 1396. Pope Pius II even mentioned the monastery in a papal bull of 1459.
The monastery connected to the Cappella di Santa Margherita met its end in 1786. It was suppressed and then demolished. The Cappella di Santa Margherita itself was also demolished in 1786.
Details of the Cappella di Santa Margherita’s reconstruction are unclear. But in the early 1700s, it featured three altars. The main altar showcased marble. It held a canvas by Panfilo Nuvolone depicting Santa Margherita. Pietro Magatti created the artwork for the two smaller altars. One depicted the Virgin Mary Immaculate. The other portrayed Saint Benedict. Marble and gilded bronzes richly decorated the chapels with the altars. Ferdinando Porta adorned the church’s vault with frescoes.
Though the Cappella di Santa Margherita is gone, its history echoes. It reminds us of Milan’s evolving religious landscape. Imagine the prayers and devotion that once filled this space. Now, only stories remain of the Cappella di Santa Margherita.