Chiesa di San Gioachimo

Nestled in the heart of Milan’s financial district, the Chiesa di San Gioachimo stands as a quiet testament to the city’s rich history. It’s a neo-Renaissance gem, tucked away amidst the modern skyscrapers near Piazza della Repubblica and Porta Garibaldi. The Chiesa di San Gioachimo isn’t just a beautiful building. It’s a vibrant hub of activity, hosting charity events, a work center, and even Italian classes for foreigners. The church’s story begins in 1880, when Archbishop Luigi Nazari di Calabiana commissioned architect Enrico Terzaghi to design a new place of worship. The location was significant, near the original central train station. This area was rapidly developing, and the archbishop wanted a church that reflected the city’s evolving identity. Terzaghi completed the Chiesa di San Gioachimo in 1885. He chose the neo-Renaissance style, a popular choice at the time, and created a unique blend of architectural influences. The façade on Viale Liberazione features a grand arch, reminiscent of Alberti’s work on the façade of Sant’Andrea in Mantua. The square base of the church echoes Bramante’s style and recalls San Carlo al Lazzaretto. Above this, a Greek cross design, inspired by Cesare Cesariano’s plans, rises to meet a polygonal tiburio, similar to that of Santa Maria presso San Satiro. A smaller tiburio sits atop the presbytery, mirroring the larger one. The slender bell tower, added in 1889, completes the picture, visible from Via Fabio Filzi. Inside, the Chiesa di San Gioachimo is bathed in light filtering through the large central dome. This dome is adorned with a frescoed frieze by Luigi Pastro, depicting a garland of flowers and fruit, a common Renaissance motif. Below the frieze, larger-than-life figures of the Patriarchs stand watch. Pastro also painted the figures of the Evangelists in the smaller dome above the presbytery. The original neoclassical high altar, from the church of San Babila, stands in the presbytery. A newer altar, added in 1985, holds relics of several saints. Two side chapels, dedicated to Saint Joachim and the Madonna del Suffragio, offer quiet spaces for reflection. The Chiesa di San Gioachimo also houses contemporary art, including a copper Via Crucis by Giuseppe Maretto and a bronze panel by Enrico Manfrini. The church is named after Saint Joachim, the father of the Virgin Mary, a fitting tribute given Pope Leo XIII’s baptismal name, Gioacchino Pecci. This connection to the papacy adds another layer to the church’s rich history.