Church of Santa Maria alla Porta

The church of Santa Maria alla Porta, located in the heart of Milan, represents an extraordinary example of Baroque architecture and religious history of the city. Its origins date back to the 12th century, when a church was built near Porta Vercellina, one of the gates of the Roman walls of Milan. However, the current building was constructed starting from 1652 according to the design of the architect Francesco Maria Richini, with further work carried out by Francesco Castelli. The interior of the church is a triumph of Baroque decorations, with stuccoes and frescoes adorning the vaults and side chapels. Among the most significant works are the paintings by Camillo Procaccini and Federico Bianchi, illustrating scenes from the life of Mary and other saints. A particularly noteworthy work is the sculptural group of the Assumption of Mary, created by Carlo Simonetta in 1670, which decorates the tympanum of the facade. A historical element of great interest is the church’s connection with the Polish community in Milan. A plaque at the entrance attests that Santa Maria alla Porta was a chaplaincy for Polish-speaking faithful, a sign of the city’s openness to different religious communities. The church suffered serious damage during the bombings of World War II, particularly on the night between August 12 and 13, 1943, when it was hit by Anglo-American air raids. These bombings caused the destruction of the chapel and much of the 17th-century furnishings, as well as severely damaging a 16th-century fresco depicting the Madonna of the Apron, which was later restored and returned to the devotion of the faithful in 2015. The facade of the church, although restored in the 19th century, still retains the pink granite columns that show signs of the bombing, with visible grenade fragments. This facade is decorated with two angel statues, originally placed in the 19th century, and two other statues in the niches of the second order, now missing but visible in some photographs from the early 20th century. The church also has an important connection to some miraculous discoveries. During the demolition of a pre-existing church in 1105, precious relics were found including fragments of Jesus’ tomb, the Holy Shroud, a part of the angel’s annunciation stone, and a shard of the Holy Cross. These relics, also mentioned by historians like Carlo Torre in the 17th century, add an aura of mystery and sanctity to the church. Santa Maria alla Porta is characterized by a Latin cross plan with a single nave and side chapels decorated with white marble sculptures. The main altar, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, is a Baroque masterpiece by Stefano Sampietro, while the sacristy houses works by Procaccini, usually only visible on rare occasions. The church has undergone numerous restorations over the centuries, aimed at preserving its artistic beauty and repairing the damage suffered during the war. The most recent restoration, lasting three years and completed in 2015, included the maintenance of the chapel and the recovery of the ancient marble floor, as well as the restoration of the Madonna of the Apron fresco.