San Gottardo al Corso Church

San Gottardo al Corso Church is a Roman Catholic place of worship in Milan with distinctive architectural features combining terracotta and marble. The octagonal bell tower with its white marble corner columns remains the most recognizable element when viewed from the surrounding streets.

It was built between 1330 and 1336 as a ducal chapel for Azzone Visconti, originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary before receiving its current dedication. The entrance shifted to the southern side in the late 1700s when architect Giuseppe Piermarini oversaw renovations to the adjacent Royal Palace.

Inside you find artworks by notable painters including a striking Crucifixion fresco in the Giottesque style. These pieces show how the church became a place where important artists left their mark over time.

The location sits in central Milan next to the Royal Palace on a major urban thoroughfare, making it simple to reach on foot. Visitors should note that the southern entrance is the primary access point, and the surrounding plaza area is generally accessible during daylight hours.

The bell tower once housed Milan's first public clock, an unusual mechanism that marked 24 hours with bell strikes beginning from the first hour after sunset. This timekeeping system was remarkably different from the standard practices found across Europe at the time.