{"id":7023,"date":"2017-06-02T09:00:08","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T13:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=7023"},"modified":"2017-05-29T12:54:39","modified_gmt":"2017-05-29T16:54:39","slug":"the-art-lovers-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=7023","title":{"rendered":"The Art Lover’s Church"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a9 2017 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Rainy days aren’t usually fun days for tourists…especially when you are trying to go out and do some sightseeing! \u00a0So, when I woke up from my nap in Milan and discovered that it was sprinkling a bit, what was I to do?<\/p>\n

Grab an umbrella\u00a0and raincoat and hit the streets, of course!<\/p>\n

Since the weather forecast was not calling for the deluge to end any time that day, I reached into my bag of knowledge of \u00a0local destinations\u00a0and pulled out San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore.<\/p>\n

Having researched this monastery\u00a0a few times, I had also heard that it was not to be missed…and it was indoors! \u00a0Perfect!<\/p>\n

Reaching the metro station of Cadorna and consulting my map a few times, I was soon standing in front of the church’s unassuming gray stone facade on Corso Magenta.<\/p>\n

Admittedly, it didn’t look like much.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Stepping through the doors, however, I must confess…my breath caught in my chest.\u00a0 An art lover’s dream, this church truly is magnificent. \u00a0Being a person who has traveled the world and seen many\u00a0religious institutions, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite as beautiful with masterpieces covering every inch of the walls, ceilings, side chapels and altar area. \u00a0It was absolutely difficult to discern which way to cast your gaze.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The church, standing on the site of a former place of worship, was constructed in the beginning of the 1500’s and is adjoined to the convent of the Benedictine nuns, the oldest female monastery in Milan. \u00a0The rectangular nave is divided by a partition into two sections. \u00a0The front section, which you see when you enter, is intended for the congregation’s worship and filled with artwork by major sixteenth century Lombard artists such as Bernardino Luini, who worked with Leonardo da Vinci, and his sons, Paolo Lomazzo, Ottavio Semino, Callisto Piazza and Simone Peterzano. \u00a0The carved wooden altar is graced by the renowned Adorazione dei Magi<\/em> (Adoration of the Magi) by Antonio Campi above it, dating back to 1578, one of the most outstanding pieces of artwork in the building.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Checking with the attendant that it was okay to photograph the area, she then made sure that I saw a sign pointing to a doorway near the altar. \u00a0The Hall of Nuns.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Already in awe of what I was seeing, I was not sure I wanted to continue on to\u00a0another area\u00a0of the structure. \u00a0Entering the doorway into a great hall, again, I was dumbfounded.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Hall of Nuns was unlike anything I had ever seen. \u00a0The long nave, flanked on each side by the wooden nun’s choir loft was presided over by a massive and obviously quite valuable pipe organ, designed by Gian Giacomo Antegnati in 1554, in the monk’s choir. \u00a0Beautifully sculpted, the gold detail of the facade is only outdone by the two shutters on each side painted in tempera by Franscesco Medici.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Walking through the gallery, I was overloaded by the expanse of compositions that filled every inch of the walls, niches and ceilings. \u00a0Truly breathtaking! \u00a0Looking upward at the starry sky, with God, the Evangelists and angels, I made my way throughout the space, through the hall and behind the nun’s choir, finding my way back to the partition separating the Hall of the Nuns from the main congregation. \u00a0Here,\u00a0images by Bernandino Luini, of St. Catherine, St. Agatha, the Marriage at Cana and the Carrying of the Cross of Christ are presented.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Reluctantly leaving the space, I found my way into the location\u00a0that formerly housed the Benedictine convent. \u00a0Now the domicile of the Milan Archaeological Museum, many Roman remains, statues and parts of the Roman Circus can be found here. \u00a0Deciding to save this for another day, I made my way through the courtyard, quickly checking out the relics that lined the area and back into the rainy day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Glancing back at the church, I couldn’t help but stop and feel glad that I had braved the elements and taken such an incredible and artistic walk through history.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Everyone wants to see the Duomo, but everyone should seek out Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore. \u00a0Truly one of Milan’s gems!<\/p>\n

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore<\/strong><\/p>\n