Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

The church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore was built from 1503. It is situated onto the convent of the Benedictine nuns, the largest in Milan.

San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore is an early Christian church rebuilt in the 16th century. The interior is decorated with a vast cycle of frescoes and is referred to as the "Sistine Chapel" of Milan.

The church of Santa Maria della Passione dates from 1486. The original plan, an octagonal lantern with eight connected chapels, may have been designed by Giovanni Antonio Amadeo but built by Giovanni Battagio. It was therefore centralised, as in many Marian sanctuaries in Renaissance Lombardy. In 1573, at the request of Carlo Borromeo, the building was transformed into a longitudinal layout, more suitable for preaching. The naves were added by Martino Bassi and the baroque façade (17th century).

Read between the lines church was designed by Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout Van Vaerenbergh in 2011. This open-air church is entirely made of steel.

Unlike most Gothic cathedrals, which have two towers in front, Milan cathedral's silhouette has a unique shape, being covered in many small pinnacles. With about 3,400 statues, 135 gargoyles and 700 figures, there are more statues on this cathedral than any other building in the world. By climbing the stairs up to the rooftop you’ll experience a breathtaking view of the city of Milan and, on sunny days, the gigantic Alps. Visitors can also see the gold-colored statue of the Virgin Mary standing on the cathedral’s highest spire, also called La Madonnina.

The Synagogue in Zderaz is an Ashkenazi synagogue from the 19th century. This brick building now serves as a storage.

The church of Santa Maria presso San Satiro was built in the 15th century, designed according to new Renaissance forms imported into the duchy by Donato Bramante. The church is famous for housing the ‘fake Bramante chorus’, a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance perspective painting.

San Sepolcro is a Catholic church in Milan. The building, which dates back to the 12th century, has been deeply remodeled at different times. The current facade is the result of a reconstruction of 1894-1897.

The basilica of Sant'Ambrogio is one of the oldest churches in Milan, being built between 379 and 386. It is traditionally considered the second most important church in the city of Milan.

In 1268, a small church was built. Before that, there was only a graveyard and a room were exhumed bones were gathered. In 1642, the bell tower of the Basilica di Santo Stefano collapsed and demolished the church and the ossuary. It was immediately rebuilt and has remained the same until today. The bones that are displayed in the ossuary are from local poor people. Most of them died of natural causes in the old Brolo hospital, but there are also skulls of people who died by violence or criminals who were beheaded.