Santa Maria della Vittoria Church, Catholic church in Milan, Italy
Santa Maria della Vittoria is a Baroque church near the medieval Porta Ticinese in Milan, at the crossing of Via Arena and Via De Amicis. It has a square plan with a hemispherical dome topped by a lantern. Inside, the left altar holds Giovanni Ghisolfi's 1674 painting of the Liberation of Saint Peter from Prison.
The church replaced a 13th-century women's convent, first Augustinian and later Dominican; 1980s excavations found the old convent church's remains and 14th-century apse frescoes. The small convent church was demolished in the 17th century for a larger Baroque church intended as the mausoleum of the Omodei family. Work probably began in 1579 and ended in 1669; the monastery was suppressed in 1810, and in 1996 the church was given to the Romanian Orthodox community.
Since 1996 the church has been used by Milan's Romanian Orthodox community, which holds its services here. The building also preserves the tombs of Cardinal Luigi Alessandro Omodei's family, and the monastery attached to it was suppressed in 1810.
The church is open to visitors, though it is important to check if any religious services are scheduled, as these may limit access to certain areas. Respectful dress and a quiet demeanor are expected when visiting this active place of worship.
Excavations in the 1980s uncovered the remains of the earlier convent church and 14th-century frescoes that decorated its apse, preserved beneath the Baroque building. Since 1996 the church has been used by Milan's Romanian Orthodox community.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,690 contributors worldwide.