Description

Essentials about the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio in brief

Many tourists focus exclusively on the city’s world-famous cathedral when traveling to Milan. However, if you are a little enthusiastic about churches and history, you should definitely have seen a second church in Milan, the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio. It is in fact one of the oldest, best preserved, early Christian churches in the world. Besides its impressive architecture, Sant’Ambrogio is also full of treasures and some martyrs’ tombs.

The history of Sant’Ambrogio

In Roman times, the area where the present church stands served as a cemetery. After the Edict of Milan by Emperor Constantine, which in 313 A.D. allowed Christians who had been persecuted until then to build their own churches, burial chapels and memorials of some martyrs had been built here.

Between 379 and 386, the Bishop of Milan, Ambrose, had the large, three-nave basilica of Ss. Nabore e Felice built for the veneration of the martyrs Nabor and Felix and Gervasius and Protasius. Very few remains of this transeptless church, whose dimensions were similar to those of today’s structure, have survived (the four red porphyry columns supporting the ciborium above the altar, some column bases and a fragment of the decoration of the apse at that time).

After his death, Ambrose was buried next to Gervasius and Protasius. Early on, the church was then named “Basilica Ambrosiana”. The great importance of this church is evident from the fact that a number of bishops received their episcopal ordination here at the tomb of their holy predecessor.

In 784, a Benedictine abbey was founded in the immediately adjacent area, which five years later received its confirmation from Charlemagne, who enlarged it with a community of canons. The previous church was too small for these new requirements. The monks therefore added a new choir room at the east end with a crypt below it as late as the 8th century. In the 9th century, the side aisles also received apses, and the atrium was laid out.

Bishop Angilberto II donated a golden altarpiece around 846, the work of the goldsmith Volvinius. A little later, inspired by the model of Old St. Peter’s in Rome, the right church tower was built, still called Campanile dei Monaci (Tower of the Monks). With its square ground plan, it is one of the first, if not the first, Lombard church tower ever.

Between 1018 and 1050, the ancient columns were sheathed and transformed into piers with services in front. This made it possible to equip the naves with a vault. Somewhat later, in Lombard style, the atrium was also remodeled and the crossing tower was built, and finally, between 1123 and 1144, the second bell tower Campanile dei Canonici (Tower of the Canons).

In the 15th century the Victor Chapel was connected to the church. The end of this century can be considered the greatest flourishing of the monastery. The Bramante canons’ buildings to the north of the church date from this period.

In the 16th and 17th centuries some side chapels were added and the interior was baroqueized. After the French occupation in the aftermath of the Revolution, the monastery was dissolved and briefly served as a hospital. However, under Austrian rule, a new flourishing began. From 1856 to 1890, a purifying restoration took place with the aim of reconstructing the Romanesque state. In 1874 the church was elevated to basilica minor. In 1921, the Catholic University moved into the monastery buildings. An Allied bombing raid in 1943 resulted in severe damage, but it was repaired by 1951.

Sant’Ambrogio from the outside

Atrium

The atrium in front of the church used to be the place where, among other things, the catechumens gathered during the service, as they were not yet allowed to participate in the Holy Mass in the church. The present shape of the atrium dates back to the middle of the 12th century. The capitals of the columns show flowers or Christian symbols. The fighting animals symbolize the struggle of good against evil.

The pillared arcades surrounding the courtyard continue in front of the church façade in the three slightly lower arches of the narthex, decorated with Lombard ornamental elements; on the floor above, the five arcades of the Benedictine loggia, from which blessings were given, are staggered according to the slope of the roof. On the walls of the atrium there are a few frescoes, some of which date back to the Middle Ages. In addition, one comes across numerous tombstones.

Church towers

From the atrium one has a good view of the two church towers. Such double-towered facades first appeared shortly before at Old St. Peter’s in Rome as well as the second church of Cluny in Burgundy and were subsequently frequently copied because of the great importance of these two places. The left tower, begun around 1123, remained unfinished for a long time; even today, the 19th century additions can be seen on the masonry. The right tower is dated around 840.

Nave

The three-aisled nave has no transept and today opens into a staggered choir (a choir flanked by two apses reconstructed in 1864). The elevation is unusual: the cross-section shows a flat, unstaggered roof slope of the nave, which has a wide bearing in the Longobard tradition. The galleries above the side aisles reduce the width of the space. The building type follows neither that of the basilica nor that of the hall church.

Sant’Ambrogio from the inside

Interior decoration

The Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio not only has an impressive exterior, but is also known for its rich and historically significant interior. Especially the dome with its golden mosaics is a real eye-catcher. Also of artistic value is the pulpit, built at the beginning of the 13th century over a richly decorated early Christian sarcophagus. The magnificent altar covering of gold, silver and precious stones is also absolutely unique. It is, after all, the world’s only surviving Carolingian altar covering, made between 824 and 856 by a goldsmith named Volvinus. Also worth seeing are the wooden choir stalls from the late 15th century and the marble bishop’s throne from the 9th century.

Shrines

Last but not least, the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio houses the remains of numerous saints: besides Ambrose, Gervasius, Protasius and Victor, Marcellina, sister of Ambrose, has also found her final resting place here. Moreover, Emperor Louis II from the 9th century is buried in the church.

Website

basilicasantambrogio.it

Opening hours

Admission fees

Free.

Address

Getting there

By public transport:

Metro line 2: Stop S. Ambrogio

Bus line 94: Stop S. Ambrogio

By car:

The nearest parking garage is Sant’Ambrogio Parking.