Last updated on .
The Church of Sant’Antonio Abate (Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate) in Milan is one of the city’s most beautiful churches. It’s located between Piazza del Duomo and Ca’ Granda. The church is open daily to visitors and admission is free.
History
The Church of Sant’Antonio Abate dates back to at least 1272, and it was rebuilt in 1584. Frescoes were completed around 1630 and the church was consecrated on September 13, 1654. The façade was designed in 1832 by Giuseppe Tazzini.
The Church
The façade of the church is plain and doesn’t give any clues to how ornate the interior is. There are four niches each containing a statue of a saint.
The interior of the church is shaped like a Latin cross and has three chapels on each side.
Acerbi Chapel
The Acerbi Chapel (Cappella Acerbi), which is second on the left, includes paintings by Giulio Cesare Procaccini considered masterpieces of Milanese Baroque. They depict the Annunciation (on the altar), Visitation (left), Flight to Egypt (right), Angels (above the altar), and Eternal in Glory (arch). The chapel was commissioned in 1609 by Senator Ludovico Acerbi in honor of his brother, Borso, who is buried there.
Carlone Frescoes
Frescoes in the nave and vault were completed by Giovanni Battista Carlone and his brother, Giovanni Bernardo Carlone. They depict several scenes regarding the Cross.
Organ
At the rear of the church is the organ, which was built in 1865.
