Santa Maria presso San Celso Church, Renaissance basilica in Milan, Italy
Santa Maria presso San Celso is a Renaissance sanctuary with an octagonal dome and loggia decorated with twelve terracotta statues. Its nave is spanned by a monumental coffered barrel vault that forms the architectural core of the interior.
Construction started in 1493 under architects Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono and Giovanni Battagio to house a miraculous Madonna image believed to have ended a four-year plague. The building's completion took decades and incorporated different artistic movements as it developed.
The interior blends Venetian design from the Spanish period with Counter-Reformation elements added under Carlo Borromeo's influence. This mix shapes how the sanctuary looks and feels when you walk through it.
The sanctuary is located on Corso Italia in central Milan and is easily reached by public transportation. Plan your visit during regular opening hours to see the full interior decoration and take time to look around without rushing.
For centuries, Milanese brides have followed a tradition of bringing flower bouquets to the Madonna statue after their wedding. This practice weaves personal joy together with religious devotion in a way that remains living tradition here.
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