Page 117 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

NOR THEAST MILAN  115

Angel Musicians by Aurelio Luini (16th century), in the church of San Simpliciano
interior has a three-aisle nave Virgin um and completed
covered by cross vaulting. The in 401. It is preceded by a
inclination of the first piers is porch and once had open
due to the absence of a façade galleries on either side
for a long period and the where penitents and new
subsequent gradual settling converts could take part in
of the building. Mass. The façade, decorated
The right-hand transept with glazed plates, was
contains part of the tomb of added in 1870 by Macia chini,
the Ducal Councillor Angelo who retained the main
Simonetta, above which are two portal. The capitals have
paintings by Carlo Francesco 12th-century carvings of
Nuvolone and Fiammenghino; the pro cessions of the
the opposite transept is Wise and Foolish Virgins.
decorated with a painting by Fourteenth century frescoes
Camillo Landriani. have been discovered in
The statues in the wooden the first chapel on the right,
choir (1579–85) are the original Part of the Baroque sacristy, Santa Maria and in the fourth is Enea
plaster models created for the del Carmine Salmeggia’s Miracle of
spires of the Duomo by St Benedict (1619). The
19th-century artists. The apse is frescoed with the
Cappella del Rosario, built on q San Simpliciano Coronation of the Virgin by
the right of the choir (1673) by Piazza San Simpliciano 7. Map 3 B4. Bergognone (1508). The
Gerolamo Quadrio, has marble Tel 02-86 22 74. q 2 Lanza. Neo-Classical altar covers
dressing and is decorated with v 2, 4, 12, 14. @ 43, 57, 61, 94. the wooden choir (1588),
canvases by Camillo Procaccini Open 9am–noon, 2:15–7pm and on either side are two
depicting The Legend of Mary. Mon–Fri; 9:30am–7pm Sat & Sun. organ pedestals frescoed
On the left-hand side of the 5 7:30am (Sep–Jun), 6pm Mon–Fri; by Aurelio Luini in the 1500s.
church is the monastery 6pm pre-hols; 8am (Sep–Jun), The transept leads to the
cloister, with remains of noble 8am (except Jul & Aug), 10 & 11:30am, Early Christian Sacellum
6pm hols.
tombs and ancient tombstones, of San Simpliciano (closed),
and a Baroque sacristy, The church was founded built to house the remains
with furniture made by by Sant’Ambrogio in the of San Simpliciano and
Quadrio in 1692 4th century as the Basilica of martyrs.
San Simpliciano, the Three Martyrs and the Carroccio
St Ambrose asked the young Sisinius, Martirius and Alexander
to go to Anaunia (today Val di Non) in northern Italy to spread
Christianity. In 397 they were martyred and the bodies were
given to Bishop Simpli ciano, who buried them in the Basilica
Lunette over one of the doors of Virginum. According to legend, the martyrs were decisive in
San Simpliciano leading the Milanese to victory in the battle of Legnano against
Barbarossa (1176). On that occasion three white doves flew out
of the basilica and landed on the Carroccio (cart), the symbol of Milan, waiting to be blessed before the
battle. On 29 May the city commemorates this event with a solemn ceremony.

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