Music, Art Nouveau architecture and noteworthy artworks in Milan
Discovering the second biggest church of Milan after the Dome, with a tour inside Art Nouveau architecture and music.
Fontana Square
The Piermarini’s Fountain was the first fountain of Milan, was built in the 18th century per Maria Teresa of Austria wishes.
Piermarini worked with the cooperation of a young artist of the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera, Giuseppe Franchi, who sculptured the dolphins and mermaids of the fountain.
The fountain is an example of neoclassic style and is composed by three superimposed ponds made out of Baveno’s pink granite.
Church of San Vito in Pasquirolo
This is a small church located in the centre of Milan and was built in the Erculee thermal bath area in 1621 by Giovanni Pietro Orobono.
San Vito in Pasquirolo rises in the middle of a modern courtyard rebuilt after the Second World War.
The church was built in a late mannerism style; the portal was projected by Genovesino between 1626-1627. The plan consists of one nave with small side chapels; the interior is decorated with stuccos and frescos made by the Fiammenghini brothers.
Palazzo Durini - Durini's Palace
Durini Palace is one of the most beautiful examples of civil architecture of the city of Milan. Was built by Francesco Maria Richini between 1645 and 1648; the façade is characterized by an enormous portal. To the left of the internal portico entryway with double columns, there is a grand staircase that leads to the superior rooms which still contain 17th and 18th century decorations.
Casa Campanini - Campanini's House
Designed between 1904-1905 by the architect Alfredo Campanini, for its structure and decorations, its one of the most important examples of the Art Nouveau style in Milan: a perfect balance between the basic nature of the building and the decorative luxuriance that covers with plant elements, even the fireplace. Noteworthy are the hallway, the staircase and period lift, perfectly preserved through time.
Church of Santa Maria della Passione
The church was built for the Lateran Canons during the 16th century, under the supervision of the architects Giovanni Battagio and Cristoforo Lombardi; the façade was renewed at the end of the 17th century by Martino Bassi.
The interior is completely covered in frescoes and there are numerous paintings by Lombardian masters, including Gaudenzio Ferrari.
The splendid sacristy was fully frescoed under the supervision of Ambrogio da Fossano, called “Il Bergognone”, and the main altar is also extremely valuable, it was made of polychrome marbles and hard stones.
The church, with its two "twin" organs is the site of the "Due organi in concerto" event.
Church of San Pietro in Gessate
Built in the 15th century, it is a noteworthy example of gothic architecture. The architect was either Guiniforte Solari or his son Pietro Antonio. The church has a nave and two aisles, with square-plan, groin vaulted spans, flanked by two rows of chapels. Instead of the traditional Gothic pilasters, the naves are separated by Corinthian columns in granite. San Pietro in Gessate is important as the home to a series of important paintings of the renaissance in Lombardy. Artists who worked here include Giovanni Donato Montorfano, Bernardino Butinone and Bernardo Zenale. The latter responsible for the impressive “Histories of St. Ambrose” in the Grifi Chapel. The chapel has a notable tombstone statue of Ambrogio Grifi by Benedetto Briosco. In the early 16th century Vincenzo Foppa completed for this church his famous “Deposition”; the fresco by Ambrogio Bergognone portraying the “Funeral of St. Martino” was made in 1514.
Tribunale - Halls of Justice Milan
Was built by the architect Marcello Piacenti a great exponent of national modern art. Completed between 1931 and 1940 the building is located on the important "Corso di Porta Vittoria" and has a trapezoidal plan. The Court House is a monumental work in Italian style build in stone and marble with gilded bronze fastenings. In the rooms and halls, there are frescoes, paintings, sculptures and mosaics made between 1937 and 1939. Numerous artists gave their contribution to enrich this palace; among the most important there are Fausto Melotti, Carlo Carrà, Lucio Fontana and Gino Severini.
Chiostri dell'Umanitaria - Dell’Umanitaria Cloisters of Milan
Composed by four different cloisters called Memory, Fishes, Statues and Wisteria; the cloisters occupy 8900 square meter perimeter including the ex Franciscan Refectory, today called "Salone degli Affreschi", where is hosted the 16th century artwork “The Crucifixion of Christ” by Bernardino Ferrari (previously ascribed to Marco d’Oggiono).
"Rotonda della Besana" Milan
The Rotonda is the Milan's most original 18th century work of art. Its architecture is unique: around the four armed church with an octagonal central layout surmounted by a dome, a curvilinear portico unfolds with a harmonious rhythm. Built between 1713 and 1725, the structure was used as a church and a cemetery, today is deconsecrated.
In 1809 Eugenio Beauharnais wanted to make it the Pantheon of the Italic Kingdom but the plans, which had been commissioned from Luigi Cagnola, was put aside for financial reasons. After a lengthy period during which was destined for the most varied uses, today after the restoration, the "Rotonda" is the site used for art events.
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