Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio
One of Milan's oldest churches and a model of Lombard Romanesque architecture, dedicated to Saint Ambrose, the city's patron saint.
The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio was founded by Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan, at the end of the 4th century. The surviving building is mostly Lombard Romanesque from the 11th to 12th centuries. Its red-brick facade has a broad colonnaded atrium in front, and its two bell towers differ in height, which makes them distinctive. Inside, you can see a 9th-century gold altar, Byzantine-style mosaics and the crypt holding the remains of Saint Ambrose. The church is free to enter (a small fee applies to the Golden Chapel), and please keep quiet during Mass. Metro M2 Sant'Ambrogio station is right outside, and the church can be combined with the nearby science museum and The Last Supper.
Opening hours
Mon–Sat approx. 10:00–12:30 and 14:30–18:00; open Sunday afternoons
Nearby sights
- San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
- Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology
- The Last Supper (Santa Maria delle Grazie)
- Basilica of San Lorenzo & Colonne di San Lorenzo
- Sforza Castle
- Navigli
- Biblioteca e Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
- Parco Sempione & Arco della Pace