Santa Maria Nuova, Minor basilica in Abbiategrasso, Italy.
Santa Maria Nuova is a basilica in Abbiategrasso with a Romanesque facade featuring five pinnacles and Gothic arches. A Renaissance quadriportico with granite columns and Gothic-Roman capitals surrounds the building, and inside eight side chapels are marked by 18th-century baroque modifications.
Construction began in 1365, and the church was renamed Santa Maria Nuova in 1388 to mark a significant birth in the ruling family. Centuries later the building underwent major restoration starting in 1987, which reinstated key structures including the quadriportico.
The name Santa Maria Nuova recalls the birth of Giovanni Maria, son of Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti, an event that shaped the local community at that time. The eight side chapels inside show devotion to various saints and reflect the faith that has lived in this place over the centuries.
The interior features a raised central nave with large cross vaults, which helps orient you as you explore. The restoration work has stabilized the building and revealed historical frescoes, so you can see the artistic details clearly.
The unfinished portico arch was created in 1497 and is the final architectural project of Donato Bramante in Lombardy. This renowned Renaissance architect left his mark in this region with this work before turning to other major projects.
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