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Church of Santa Francesca Romana
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Show an other treasure of art and history in Milan:
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 Mostly represented styles: Baroque - Rococò - Neoclassic
The Church of Santa Francesca Romana is an eighteenth-century church. Originally with a square plan and with access through two gates connected to the marble altar. Of the eighteenth century, from ca. 1710-1725, is also the large wooden statue of the Black Madonna of Montserrat (Catalan sanctuary on pyrenes, among the most beloved of Christianity), introduced in Milan around 1720 by the Agostinian Ignatius of St. Dominic, confessor of Prince Charles III. Also the altar, made of polychrome and inlaid marble, is large and with monumental forms.
With the arrival of the French in 1796 the Church of Santa Francesca Romana was reduced to a warehouse. It was restored to its original functions in 1829. At the end of the nineteenth century a bell tower was also added (1882) and the facade was remodeled (1892). In 1916 the dome was frescoed by Morgari.
Commissioned by Cardinal Schuster a first enlargement took place, with the lengthening of the south transept. The lower dome over the altar was painted in 1932 by Morgari.
Other expansions and changes took place after the Second World War.
The Church of Santa Francesca Romana still possesses, at least in part, the original wooden fittings of the choir, in Baroque style, with the insignia of St. Augustine on the bench of the prior. Also from the eighteenth century are the big cupboards of the sacristy, which in numerous drawers still retain, on strips of paper glued to the inner walls, the names of the Augustinian friars who used them more than two centuries ago.
Of note, among the paintings in the church, the Pity with Santa Rosalia (patron saint of Palermo but also co-patron of this church), a beautiful baroque canvas painted in 1615 by by Carlo Duccu (Santa Francesca Romana and San Carlo Borromeo in adoration of Jesus taken down from the Cross and on Mari's lap, Fig. 7), and the painting of Our Lady of the belt between saints Augustine and Monica, traditionally attributed to Moncalvo, or at least to his school.
While not one of the churches of major artistic and historical importance of Milan, the Church of Santa Francesca Romana has beautiful interiors, characterized by the contrast between the ocher and red of the brick walls and those of the blue, prevailing in the frescoes.
Unfortunately, the church is not very bright and also the light are not particularly powerful, so that it is not easy to appreciate the interiors.
If you are interested in a guided tour of this monument send an email!
Categories: Churches / Religious buildings
Via Alvise Cadamosto, 5, Milano MI |
Further pictures of the Church of Santa Francesca Romana in the section Photography |