Where faith, art, and history converge
Christian churches scattered across the Martesana landscape have ancient roots, often predating the monastic era. These buildings — some true sanctuaries — embody an important heritage, bearing witness to centuries of faith, art, and community life.
It is not uncommon to find paintings and frescoes dedicated to the Virgin Mary or to the Holy Martyrs, each with its own particular devotion. Every fresco, nave, and bell tower tells stories of local traditions and historical events. Over the centuries, especially during the age of the free communes, the role of these churches extended beyond their strictly religious function.
They took on a civil role, becoming important centres of community life. Public gatherings were often held inside the churches or in their churchyards, making them not only places of worship, but also focal points of the area’s social, economic, and political life, where civil matters were debated and public decisions made.
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Monasterolo
Inzago
The toponym reveals the nature of the site: a former convent, granted in 1489 to the Friars of St Mary Crowned in Milan, which also served as a hospice for convalescing clergy. Inside, a striking “Madonna del Latte” (Nursing Madonna) stands out. The painting is attributed to the Master of the Sforza Altarpiece, Bernardino Martini known as Zenale, originally from Treviglio, though an attribution at the Bernardino Luini’s school.
Church of Saints Protasius and Gervasius
Gorgonzola
Church construction began in 1806 under the direction of Simone Cantoni and was later completed by Giacomo Moraglia. The nave and the octagonal dome are striking examples of Neoclassical design. The building replaced the ancient parish church, originally founded in the 8th century.
The Church of Santa Maria Rossa
Crescenzago
This ancient monastic complex once belonged to the Order of Saint Augustine. Founded around 1140, the abbey was the final destination of the pilgrimage of the Three Madonnas — the Black Madonna of Loreto (Piazzale Loreto), the White Madonna of Casoretto (Via Casoretto), and the Red Madonna of Crescenzago (Via Berra).
Monastery of the Poor Clares
Gorla Milanese
The Monastery of the Poor Clares, following Saint Clare’s Rule, was commissioned by Cardinal Ildefonso Schuster as a place of prayerful seclusion. It was designed by architect Giovanni Muzio. The church opened to the public in 1958 and is adjacent to the San Francesco Residence for the Elderly, built in 2003.
