Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio (Basilica of St Ambrose), Northwest Milan

One of the most important religious buildings, dedicated to Milan's patron saint, Saint Ambrose, who founded this Roman Basilica. It is bright and well rebuilt and has a wonderful golden dome with thousands of mosaics. Saint Ambrose is buried here in the crypt.

Among the oldest churches in Milan, this basilica was built between 379 and 386, dedicated to the martyrs. It was erected in an area where many of them had been buried, victims of the Roman persecutions. Initially, it was outside of the city and in 789 a monastery of canons was established within the basilica grounds sharing the space with a group of monks, each of whom had their own cloister and bell tower.

It has undergone several restorations, and its current image owes more to the Romanesque style of the late 11th and early 12th century than to its Paleochristian origins. The building, rebuilt between 1080 and 1128 with a vault, is mostly composed of red brick with parts in stone and white plaster, with a large atrium in front.

Inside, the beautiful interior takes you back to the spirituality of the Middle Ages. There are medieval carved capitals, a marble ambo (pulpit) from the 12th century for Gospel readings as well as many other artworks.