Imagine a small church nestled in the Borgo di Monforte. This is the Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano in Milan. Today, we explore its history.
The Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano dates back to the 14th century. Initially, Basilian monks occupied it. The church’s name likely came from a small fortress nearby. This fortress stood where the bell tower would later rise. An oratory dedicated to San Rocco also stood beside it. By the 18th century, no trace of the oratory remained.
In 1657, the Basilians were suppressed by Innocenzo X. Discalced Augustinians then took over the Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano. Bernardo da Bussero’s donations helped renovate the church.
The Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano featured a single nave. Eight chapels lined its sides symmetrically. Francesco Cairo’s San Nicola da Tolentino was a notable painting. Andrea Porta created a piece depicting the Virgin, Saint Augustine, and Saint Monica. Tommaso Formenti painted the transit of San Giuseppe in 1727. This artwork sat in a gold-leafed ancona with marble. Other paintings portrayed Saint Anne and Saint Gioacchino. A wooden statue of the Virgin Mary stood in a grand chapel. Relics of Saints Cosma and Damiano were kept here. They arrived from Genova, along with other minor relics.
The adjoining convent was simple. This matched the Discalced Augustinians’ lifestyle. Yet, it housed a rich library.
Later, in 1489, the Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano was given to monks from San Giacomo di Castellazzo. These monks were documented since 1401. However, in 1796, the monastery was suppressed.
The church’s story took another turn. By 1798, Leopold Pollack transformed the former Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano. It became the Teatro dei Filodrammatici. Pollack cleverly used the existing structure. He avoided unnecessary waste. The building’s basic structure remained recognizable.
Sadly, the Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano which had become a theatre, was demolished in 1958 after surviving bombings. A new theater was built in 1970.
The Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano’s legacy lives on. It transitioned from a church to a monastery. It then became a theater. Its story reflects Milan’s ever-changing history.