Here in Piazza Caserta stands the Chiesa parrocchiale di San Paolo Apostolo. It serves as a testament to Milan’s expansion in the early 20th century. New neighborhoods needed a new parish. So the construction of this church began in 1926.
Piero Palumbo designed the Chiesa parrocchiale di San Paolo Apostolo. He was an Italian architect who had worked in Vienna. Interestingly, he was also a trusted architect of the Habsburg imperial house before World War I. The first part of the church was inaugurated on April 1 1928. However, the transcept and tiburio were not complete until 1932. The Chiesa parrocchiale di San Paolo Apostolo was officially inaugurated in 1934. Milan’s archbishop Ildefonso Schuster led the ceremony.
During the 1930s side altars were added to the presbytery. Vanni Rossi created frescoes for the apse. These depict the Vocation, Martyrdom, and Glory of Saint Paul. The presbytery floor received a mosaic. Palumbo himself designed some of the stained glass windows. The church saw many improvements during the 1960s. These included a new organ, confessionals, and pews. Bronze doors were installed in the 1980s. A major interior renovation took place in 1991. The baptismal font was moved. A new main altar and ambo were erected. Archbishop Carlo Maria Martini inaugurated them in June 1991.
Externally, the Chiesa parrocchiale di San Paolo Apostolo resembles a Romanesque basilica. Some details make it appear older than it is. Originally the pronaos was smaller. It only covered the central door. Later, the style was extended to the side doors. The facade is gabled. It includes many Lombard Romanesque elements. A series of arches mark the front. A three-light window sits in the center. Single-light windows are on the sides. Stone columns support the arches. These resemble those in Milanese Romanesque basilicas. The decoration is almost Art Deco. The two octagonal side structures are unique. They have lanterns. These resemble ancient chapels.
A raised wall section separates the central part of the facade from the nave. A small ornamental bell tower stands on this section. The sides have characteristics of Padano Romanesque style. Slender single-light windows illuminate the side aisles. Two-light windows connected by arches adorn the main nave. Hanging arches serve as a cornice.
Palumbo took some liberties with the tiburio. Instead of the traditional octagonal shape, it has a square base. The octagonal upper part has small apses at the corners. It is topped with an octagonal lantern. An extremely tall bell tower was planned. However it was never built.
Inside the Chiesa parrocchiale di San Paolo Apostolo is bright. It features three naves. Wide arches support the groin vault. The presbytery is very interesting. The frescoes by Vanni Rossi stand out in the main apse. They depict the calling, martyrdom, and glory of Saint Paul. The side altars are beautiful. The altar of the Madonna is to the left of the main altar. It was created by marble workers from Verona. Behind it are copies of Palumbo’s stained glass designs. The altar of Saint Joseph is on the right. The pulpit is in pure Art Deco style. It is made of shaped wood. A stone corbel shaped like a large flower supports it. Fortunately this pulpit was preserved. It was not removed like others in churches of that era.