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Church Museums
A panorama of Milan's art museums should
include (besides the minor museums of Sant'Eustorgio and Santa
Maria della Passione) two more collections that are not extensive,
but which are of great interest.
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Museo del Duomo
When you visit this museum, which is housed
in the Palazzo Reale, the cathedral does not appear in
its grandiose mystical dimension but is analyzed as a building-site
on which work has already been in progress for six centuries and,
with all the maintenance needed, seems destined to continue for
long as the city itself. There is a series of sculptures that
demonstrate the role of this 'building-site' as a center for artists
both foreign and Italian. And there are models and designs and
sketches and projects of various tastes, styles and epochs.
Seen close up, the 14-15th century statues
from the Lombard and Rhine Schools brought down from the spires
up on the cathedral's roof as well as the age-old stained glass
panels appear in their full splendor. The wooden models
dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries are truly spectacular,
and give a glimpse of a Duomo that is somewhat different from
the one we see today.
It is also fascinating to observe how, when faced with crucial
issues - such as how to complete the façade - architects and
artists attempted each time to give the cathedral a new look,
or otherwise to imitate older styles.
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Piazza Duomo
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Duomo
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9:30AM - 12:30PM and 3 - 6PM
• closed Monday
entrance charge
tel. 02 860358
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Museo della basilica di Sant'Ambrogio
Like the Museo del Duomo, this museum
groups together artistic testimonies of the long history of the
church of Milan's Patron Saint, Ambrogio. Among its most conspicuous
treasures is a collection of tapestries and precious fabrics,
some of which are truly ancient (4th century AD).
There are numerous illuminated manuscripts,
although not all the basilica's patrimony of manuscripts, kept
in its nearby library, has yet been studied in depth.
In the museum are paintings by Zenale, Bergognone, Bernardino
Luini, and more direct evidence of phases in the basilica's construction:
fragments of previous architectures, of the ancient doors, of
mosaics, and of stained glass panes.
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Piazza Sant'Ambrogio 15
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Sant'Ambrogio
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temporarily closed for renovation
tel. 02 86450895
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Museo Diocesano
This is of a more recent creation of the
Milan Diocese, currently used mainly for temporary exhibitions.
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Corso di Porta Ticinese 95
10AM - 7PM; Thursday till 10PM
• closed Monday
entrance charge
tel. 02 89404728
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All rights reserved
copyright © 1996-2003
Monica Levy, Roberto Peretta
copyright © 1996, 2002
Ulrico Hoepli SpA, Milano
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