Did you notice the radiant mosaic above the central door? That’s part of the Madonna del Rosario. It was added in 1977. The mural is found at the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Rosario in Milan. The church stands in Piazza del Rosario along Via Andrea Solari.
Let’s step back a moment and talk about this church’s history. Construction finished in 1914. Architect Don Enrico Locatelli designed it. He also designed the church of San Domenico di Legnano.
The area transformed at the end of the 19th century. Industrial and residential development sprang up outside the city walls. In 1905, the Società Umanitaria built the Primo quartiere popolare along Via Solari. By 1906, it housed one thousand people.
Before the church, a small cement chapel stood here in 1907. It served as a religious gathering place for the growing neighborhood. Factories began to occupy the left side of Via Solari. The area was once called “zona Macello” because of its proximity to the public slaughterhouse. It was demolished in 1931. The neighborhood sat between the livestock rail yard and the Circonvallazione railway. It was a densely populated peripheral area. The parish territory was quite large.
Now focus on the church’s facade. It features a gable built with red bricks. Pilasters divide it into three sections. Three doors correspond to the three naves inside. A mosaic of Santa Maria del Rosario adorns the central door. The ditta Sgorlon created it. Gian Luigi Uboldi designed it. He was a painter and xylographer.
Above the portico, a long window stretches across the facade. Luigi Vianello created its artistic stained glass. The window ends in a Gothic arch. The original medieval-style rose window was removed in 1952. Decorations were added that year too. A large smooth cross rises from the roof’s peak.
Notice the bell tower. It stands slightly detached from the building on the left buttress. Monsignor Spirito Maria Chiappetta designed it. He was Pope Pius XI’s trusted architect. Construction began in 1921 and lasted until 1924. Giuseppe Calori oversaw the work. Once completed, they dedicated it to the Madonna. The Ottolina firm of Seregno cast five bells for it.
The Madonna del Rosario has witnessed significant events. On May 28, 1980, journalist Walter Tobagi was murdered nearby. He lived in this parish and regularly attended the church. The Red Brigades committed the assassination. Cardinal Martini officiated the funeral on May 30. A huge crowd gathered. Don Beretta, the parish priest, named the “Centro di azione culturale” after Walter Tobagi.
In 2016, the five bells were removed for maintenance. The bell tower showed signs of wear and tear. The bells returned on June 24 that year.
The Madonna del Rosario stands as a testament to faith. It is a landmark in this evolving Milanese neighborhood.