Envision a sanctuary where quietude reigns supreme. This is the Chiostro delle Umiliate. It is a haven far from Milan’s frantic pace. This cloister whispers tales of devotion and transformation.
The Convento delle Umiliate stands as a testament to Milan’s layered past. Built upon the ruins of a Roman circus it emerged in the late 1400s. This sacred space became home to the Umiliate order. These devout laypeople sought a life mirroring the apostles.
Imagine life within the Convento delle Umiliate. From the early 1000s until 1810, the Monache Umiliate resided here. They lived a life dedicated to faith and community. Napoleon’s suppression of religious orders in Lombardy brought an end to their way of life.
The monastery of Santa Maria Maddalena met misfortune after its suppression in 1810. But in 1914, Carla and Guido Ucelli purchased it. They were the insightful founders of the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica. They saved it from destruction and restored it.
The Ucelli family has carefully preserved the magnificent fifteenth-century cloister. It is a double loggia. Its simplicity holds magic. It is the last vestige of the Umiliate monastery of Santa Maria Maddalena al Cerchio. Behind it lie gardens with old plants. They are remnants of the large monastic gardens that dominated the area until the 1700s.
Note the cloister’s design. It features a portico with a double loggiato. Thirty-four columns support the structure. The style embodies the Umiliati architecture’s simple aesthetic. Along the walls, eight columns stand. They came from the demolished Convento del Vettabbia near Piazza Vetra.
The origins of some relics remain a mystery. These include a marble solar head of Roman origin. Inside, you can see a large anchor and a rudder post. They are copies of Roman imperial ships found in Lake Nemi in 1930. Guido Ucelli oversaw their recovery.
The Chiostro delle Umiliate received recognition as a national monument in 1923. Today, the Chiostro delle Umiliate stands as a symbol of peace. It represents Milan’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage. As you leave this tranquil place, carry its serenity with you. Remember the stories of faith. Recall the dedication of those who sought solace within its walls.