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The Basilica of Saint Ambrose (Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio) is one of the oldest and most historic churches in Milan. It’s dedicated to its founder, Saint Ambrose, the patron saint of the city.
History
Saint Ambrose (Aurelius Ambrosius) was a bishop of Milan in the 4th century. He built the church between 379 and 386 in an area where martyrs of Roman persecutions were buried. The building underwent several restorations over the years and sustained major damage during the Allied bombing of Milan in August 1943. The current structure mostly dates back to 1080.
The Building
Basilica of Saint Ambrose has two bell towers. The one on the left is taller and dates back to 1144. The one on the right is called the Tower of the Monks (Torre dei Monaci) and is from the 9th century.
Inside the courtyard are several different pieces of ancient columns and sarcophagi. The sarcophagus of Italian Renaissance author Pietro Candido Decembrio (1399-1477) is one of them. The doors and entryways are also impressive.
Inside the church, a golden table serves as the altar. It once held the sarcophagus of Saint Ambrose. Above the altar is a 13th century mosaic of Christ Pantocrator.
Also inside the church is a 12th century ambo with nine columns. It sits on top of an ornate 4th century Roman sarcophagus known as Stilicho’s Sepulchre. An original column base probably from the 9th century sits next to it.
The crypt of the church contains the remains of Saint Ambrose. It was built in the 9th century but the current look is from the 18th century.
Piazza Sant’Ambrogio
The Basilica of Saint Ambrose sits on Piazza Sant’Ambrogio, which is a path with grass on both sides that heads north from the front of the church.
Temple of Victory
On the piazza behind the church is the Temple of Victory (Tempio della Vittoria), which was dedicated on November 4, 1928. It’s a memorial to the fallen Milanese in World War I. It has eight sides representing the eight gates of Milan that the soldiers passed through to join Italian troops.
Postern of Saint Ambrose
In front of the church is the Postern of Saint Ambrose (Pusterla di Sant’Ambrogio), which was one of the secondary gates of Milan. It was originally built in 1171 and turned into a prison during Spanish rule. The current gate was rebuilt in 1939.
Cova Castle
On the other side of the gate is Cova Castle (Castello Cova), a mansion built between 1910 and 1915.
