Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore (Church of St. Maurice), Milan

Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore (Church of St. Maurice), Milan (must see)

The Church of Saint Maurice is a stunning church in Milan's city center, located where the most important convent for women once stood. With its beautiful murals, it is considered by many to be the most beautiful church in Milan, surpassing even the famous Duomo. Inside, every inch is covered with color, whether through paintings or mosaics, and gold is everywhere. The pillars, ceilings, and walls are adorned with decorations and prints, earning the church its nickname, "The Sistine Chapel" of Milan.

Construction of the church took about fifteen years in the 16th century. It was originally divided into two parts, one for the nuns and one for the faithful, with the strict division having only disappeared at the end of the 18th century.

Many frescoes on the walls date back to the 16th century and include works by Luini (both father and son), Campi, and Peterzano. They depict various religious images, including saints, angels, Jesus carrying the cross, and Jesus when he died. Another noteworthy object is the organ in the part where the nuns used to sit, dating back to 1554 and designed by Antegnati.

The use of colors in the church is powerful, and the colored stained glass windows are also worth seeing.

Tip:
Museo Civico Archeologico, a small but lovely archaeological museum, is located in the adjacent monastery. Here, you can admire two ancient Roman watchtowers up close, as well as numerous sculptures and a beautiful maquette spread over three floors.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Milan. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore (Church of St. Maurice) on Map

Sight Name: Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore (Church of St. Maurice)
Sight Location: Milan, Italy (See walking tours in Milan)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Milan, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Milan

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Milan Introduction Walking Tour

Milan Introduction Walking Tour

Recognized as one of the world's four fashion capitals, Milan is also a global hub of design and a key tourist destination. The etymology of the name Milan remains uncertain. One theory holds that the Latin name Mediolanum comes from the Latin words medio (in the middle) and planus (plain).

In 286 the Roman Emperor Diocletian moved the capital of the Western Roman Empire from Rome to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Historical Churches Walking Tour

Historical Churches Walking Tour

Milan may well be a world fashion capital and one of the financial capitals of Europe, but religion, and particularly churches, are an inseparable part of the Milanese life. Indeed, steeped in history, this city has garnered over the centuries a wealth of iconic places of worship.

Among these, the Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) stands as a symbol of grandeur and faith. This magnificent...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Historic Center Walking Tour

Historic Center Walking Tour

Contained within the area once delimited by the medieval walls, the Centro Storico (historic center) of Milan encompasses the city's perhaps most famous landmarks and tourist attractions. Compact in size, the area is easily distinguishable on the map much as walkable. Here you can find almost everything Milan is famous for, in a close proximity to each other.

The best place to start is...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Leonardo da Vinci's Masterpieces

Leonardo da Vinci's Masterpieces

Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest Renaissance artists and polymaths in history, left an indelible mark on Milan through several of his masterpieces created in this city over the nearly 20 years that he spent here.

One of the notable places where you can explore the maestro's work is the Ambrosian Library (Biblioteca Ambrosiana), which houses a vast collection of his drawings and...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Best Shopping Streets and Malls

Best Shopping Streets and Malls

One of the world's four fashion capitals and, as of lately, that of industrial design as well, Milan is renowned internationally as a top shopping destination, where fashion is the second religion. In a city as rich as this one, dedicated to art and pleasure, there's no shortage of options for those accustomed to upscale shopping and favoring bargains.

Amid the plethora of places to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles

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