San Maurizio Church

A magnificent array of paintings and frescoes in the Church of San Maurizio on Corso Magenta in Milan!

Often referred to as the ‘Sistine Chapel of Milan’, this gem of Lombard Renaissance art houses some extraordinary frescoes by Bernardino Luini and his pupils, depicting Gospel parables and biblical episodes, some of which feature fantastical elements.

The church’s structure is also highly distinctive, featuring a rectangular layout divided in two by a frescoed wall. In the past, this partition separated the public area—attended by the laity—from the “nuns’ choir,” the section of the basilica reserved for the cloistered nuns of the adjacent Benedictine convent, who were forbidden from coming into contact with the outside world.

Passing through a small doorway, one moves from the magnificent main church to the second chapel, which is more intimate but is also entirely covered in frescoes, predominantly in shades of blue, gold and orange.

The church is open to visitors free of charge. An admission ticket, however, grants access to the Civic Archaeological Museum, housed within the former convent of the Monastero Maggiore. The entire complex is one of Milan’s most fascinating artistic treasures.

From the Hotel City (M1 Lima station), the Church of San Maurizio (M1 Cairoli station) is just a few minutes’ journey away by underground.

Stay at the Hotel City Milano and discover the city’s hidden treasures!