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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.

Basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan, Italy
Basilica of Saint Ambrose

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.

Courtyard at the Basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan, Italy
Courtyard
Sarcophagus of Pietro Candido Decembrio at the Basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan, Italy
Sarcophagus of Pietro Candido Decembrio
Door

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.

Nave at the Basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan, Italy
Nave
Altar at the Basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan, Italy
Altar
Looking towards the entrance

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.

Ambo at the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio in Milan, Italy
Ambo
Stilicho's Sepulchre at the Basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan, Italy
Stilicho’s Sepulchre
Ancient column base at the Basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan, Italy
Ancient column base

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.

Crypt at the Basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan, Italy
Crypt
Remains of Saint Ambrose at the Basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan, Italy
Remains of Saint Ambrose

 

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.

Piazza Sant'Ambrogio in Milan, Italy
Piazza Sant’Ambrogio

 

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.

Temple of Victory in Milan, Italy
Temple of Victory

 

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.

Postern of Saint Ambrose in Milan, Italy
Postern of Saint Ambrose

 

Cova Castle

On the other side of the gate is Cova Castle (Castello Cova), a mansion built between 1910 and 1915.

Cova Castle in Milan, Italy
Cova Castle

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