Church of St. Maria “degli Angeli” - Crypt

Piazza Sant’Angelo 2 20121 Milano

Lombardy District of the order of San Carlo Borromeo of Frati Minori, Franciscans

Via della Moscova 9
Phone 02.632481
Fax 02.29060529
santangelo@fratiminori.it
www.fratiminori.it

Investigations and preliminary works for the recovery of the crypt

The church was built in 1552 by architect Domenico Giunti. The best artists of the time contributed to its realization. A crypt which has not been used for nearly two centuries is located beneath the main altar. In 1700, according to histories, during the period of Lent, it was used to celebrate Mass. The investigations carried out on the surfaces showed layers of great historical importance.
The crypt appears in fact, under many layers of paintings, to be decorated with funerary themes: skeletons made with the “mezzo fresco” technique, with great anatomical details and texts included in scrolls that evoke the human fragility, bringing to light another example in Milan of the cultural tradition of the deceased worship at the time of lazarettos. In addition to this, the crypt shows a more ancient area with medieval stone columns and “fresco” decorations. Further studies and researches related to the restoration and preservation of the place still remain open.

By Cecilia Bresciani

SEE vjdeo "La Cripta dei Frati Francescani"