“Eighty years” echoes in the silence surrounding Cristo Re. This former church stands in Via Bartolomeo Colleoni. It holds a history richer than its weathered facade suggests. Cristo Re’s story began in the 1920s.
Imagine Milan in the 1920s. The city was expanding. The diocese wanted to provide new parishes. Cristo Re was conceived to meet this need. Engineer Palombi designed it in a neo-mannerist style. Its design was intentionally imposing. A large arch greeted worshipers. This led to a gigantic portal. Two side entrances offered alternative entries. The church’s layout followed a Latin cross design. It featured four bays plus a transept and apse.
Cristo Re’s construction used reinforced concrete. This was then concealed by Lombard stone and exposed brick. The bell tower remains incomplete at the back. It has a simple cell. The solemn consecration occurred on December 6, 1935. Cardinal Schuster presided over the ceremony.
Adjacent to Cristo Re was a convent. It housed the Ancelle del Sacro Cuore di Gesù. They were present in Milan from 1926 to 1990. The sisters also ran a nursery and school. Nearby, Alfa Romeo had its first production site. It operated from 1906 to 1986.
Cristo Re remained active until the 1990s. Afterward, it closed and faded from memory. Its location amidst industrial and trade fair areas contributed to its neglect. The Suore sold the religious complex to Finser S.p.A. This real estate agency then ceded the property to a cultural association.
In 2013, Cardinal Angelo Scola mentioned Cristo Re. He spoke of offering it to Milan’s Orthodox community. In 2017, Cristo Re was deconsecrated by Archbishop Scola. The church was intended to pass to the Orthodox community. However, the situation remains unclear.
Once, the convent grounds extended towards Via Gattamelata. A Carabinieri barracks was planned there. This was part of the CityLife project. But the barracks project stalled. Like Cristo Re, it fell into neglect. Sadly, the abandoned Cristo Re has suffered from graffiti. Its walls bear unwanted marks.
What future awaits Cristo Re? Its location is appealing. The area is undergoing redevelopment. We can only wait to see what becomes of this graceful church. Its story is a mix of grand beginnings, quiet service and eventual abandonment. Cristo Re stands as a silent witness to Milan’s changing landscape.