Basilica of San Simpliciano, minor basilica
The Basilica of San Simpliciano is a church in Milan's Brera district with a Latin cross floor plan and three aisles of equal height. High supporting pillars rise throughout the interior, creating a sense of vertical space and clarity.
Saint Ambrose initiated construction in the fourth century on a site that had served pagan worship, and his successor completed the work shortly after 400. The building became an important center for early Christian practice in northern Italy.
The basilica serves as a spiritual center for local worshippers and has shaped the religious identity of the neighborhood for centuries. Visitors can sense this living tradition through the care given to the spaces and the community's presence during services.
The building sits conveniently near Corso Garibaldi and welcomes visitors during regular worship services. The former convent area next to it now houses a theological faculty and may have limited public access depending on the day.
Beneath the altar rest the remains of three early Christian martyrs in a fifth-century chapel accessed through a door positioned to the left of the apse. This hidden burial site reveals the deep connection between the building and the earliest saints of the faith.
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