Church of Santa Maria near San Satiro

The church of Santa Maria presso San Satiro, located in the bustling heart of Milan, just a few steps from the Duomo, is a masterpiece of the Renaissance that enchants with its architectural ingenuity and its rich history of anecdotes. Built between 1476 and 1482 according to the design of the great architect Donato Bramante, the church stands on the site of an ancient place of worship dating back to the 9th century, dedicated to San Satiro, brother of Sant’Ambrogio, the patron saint of Milan. The construction of Santa Maria presso San Satiro was commissioned by Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan, eager to build a new and splendid Marian sanctuary to house a venerated image of the Madonna considered miraculous. This image was linked to an extraordinary episode: in 1242, an assailant struck the Madonna with a dagger, and it is said that blood began to flow from the painting, further increasing popular devotion. Bramante’s project stands out for its extraordinary ability to solve space problems with innovative solutions. The church, in fact, had to be built in a very restricted area, with the medieval Via Falcone running just behind the building, preventing the construction of a traditional apse. Bramante’s response was ingenious: he created a trompe-l’oeil, a painted false apse that, through the use of forced perspective, gives the illusion of real depth of several meters, while in reality the depth is only one meter. This perspective trick is considered one of the first and most refined examples of optical illusion in Western art. Upon entering the church, one is immediately struck by the trompe-l’oeil effect. The central nave, covered by a barrel vault, leads the eye towards the false choir, creating an impression of great spaciousness and depth. The perfection of Bramante’s optical illusion is such that only by approaching can one understand the ingenuity of the device. The church is in the shape of a Latin cross, without upper side arms, and has a three-nave layout. The interior is decorated with works of remarkable value, including frescoes and paintings by renowned artists such as Bergognone, known for his luminous sacred paintings, and precious stucco sculptures. One of the side chapels houses a particularly venerated work: the “Madonna with Child”, which still attracts numerous devotees and tourists today. The baptistery, originally conceived as a sacristy, stands out for its octagonal shape and the presence of a baptismal font dating back to the Renaissance period. The decorations of the baptistery, with their elaborate stuccoes and frescoes, testify to the high artistic quality of the complex. The exterior of the church is less flashy than the interior, with a facade completed only in 1872 by the architect Giuseppe Vandoni, who followed the original design of Bramante and Amadeo. The facade is simple and austere, in stark contrast to the elaborate and surprising interior. Over the centuries, Santa Maria presso San Satiro has undergone various restoration interventions and modifications, which have preserved its structure and artistic integrity. In the 19th century, the church underwent important restorations aimed at preserving its historical and artistic heritage, while in the 20th century further works have allowed to maintain and enhance the internal works of art.