Oratorio di San Giuseppe

Hidden in the heart of Milan, a gem of Baroque artistry awaits: the Oratorio di San Giuseppe. Let’s unravel the secrets behind its seemingly simple façade. The Oratorio di San Giuseppe stands near the Teatro alla Scala. Its history traces back to 1503. Franciscan preacher Francesco from San Colombano founded the Pious Place of San Giuseppe then. This place offered assistance independent of direct church control. The original church proved too small. Plans for expansion were delayed by a plague and the death of Cardinal Borromeo. Finally, in 1607, architect Francesco Maria Richini took the reins. He envisioned a masterpiece. The church reopened for worship in 1616, though unfinished. Richini dedicated thirty years to this project, his final touch being the polychrome marble floor in 1640. The Oratorio di San Giuseppe showcases Richini’s genius. It’s a blend of two central plans: one for the congregation, the other for the presbytery. The main hall is a marvel of spatial transformation. A square becomes an octagon thanks to corner pillars and colossal columns. Niches and cantorias lighten the pillars, blurring the lines between pillar and wall. The octagonal dome and the floor’s radiating marble wedges enhance this illusion. The square presbytery, with its own side chapels, further complicates the visitor’s perception. The church’s façade presents a unified structure, independent of the main body. It features two orders, pilasters, columns, and a single central entrance. Uniquely, each order has its own pediment. Statues, ornate frames, and a large balcony window grace the façade. The Oratorio di San Giuseppe boasts four side chapels: two main chapels in the main hall and two smaller ones flanking the presbytery. All have retables, framing large altarpieces. The main right altar features Giulio Cesare Procaccini’s “Death of St. Joseph.” The main left altar displays Giovan Battista Crespi’s “Marriage of the Virgin.” The apse is dominated by a Baroque altar in polychrome marble. Atop the altar rests a statue of St. Joseph with Child by Elia Vincenzo Buozzi. Statues of Purity and Virginity flank the retable. A bas-relief of “The Death of St. Joseph” adorns the altar’s base. The Oratorio di San Giuseppe, a blend of architectural ingenuity and artistic splendor. It’s a must-see for any visitor to Milan.