Basilica of San Magno, Legnano

Basilica of San Magno
Basilica di San Magno (Italian)
Basilica of San Magno from the Square.
Basic information
Location	Legnano, Italy
Geographic coordinates	45°35′41.64″N 8°55′9.12″E / 45.5949000°N 8.9192000°ECoordinates: 45°35′41.64″N 8°55′9.12″E / 45.5949000°N 8.9192000°E
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Rite	Ambrosian Rite
Province	Archdiocese of Milan
Website	www.parrocchiasanmagno.it
Architectural description
Architectural style	Renaissance
Groundbreaking	May 4, 1504
Completed	June 6, 1513
Direction of façade	West

The Basilica of San Magno is a Renaissance style Roman Catholic Basilica church in Legnano, in the Province of Milan, Italy.^[1] It is the main church in Legnano.

History

Polyptych depicting the Enthroned Madonna and Child surrounded by Angels with Musical Instruments (1523) by Bernardino Luini

It was commissioned by the Lampugnani and Vismara families from Legnano; and built in 1504-1513. It was built atop an ancient church dedicated to San Salvatore. A bas-relief from the ancient church is embedded into the outer wall of the bell-tower (the latter built in 1752). The original architect of the present Basilica is unknown, although the design derives much influence from the Milanese work of Donato Bramante, and reflects a centralized Greek Cross layout, with a center octagonal atrium and circumferential chapels. The church atrium and facade were modified in the 17th century by Francesco Maria Richini. The three bronze doors were dedicated in 1976, on the 800th anniversary of the Battle of Legnano, and were sculpted by Franco Dotti. The remains of the Romanesque has a frieze in Latin stating PABULA VINA CERES RIVORUM COPIA TEMPLUM LEGNANUM ILLUSTRANT MULTAQUE NOBILITAS (The copious harvest of food and wine from Legnano allowed the Nobility to erect this temple).

The ceiling was frescoed in 1515 by Gian Giacomo Lampugnani and Giovanni Martino Casa. The prize of the works in the church is the polyptych depicting the Enthroned Madonna and Child surrounded by Angels with Musical Instruments (1523) by Bernardino Luini. The lateral scenes depict Saints John the Baptist and Peter; and below Saints Magnus and Ambrose. The tympanum of the polyptych has a fresco of God the Father, while the predella has monocrome scenes of the life of Jesus. The frescoes in the main chapel and others were painted by Bernardino Lanino. The main altarpiece of Saints Charles and Magnus before the Lamb (1845) was painted by Antonio Cassani. Other chapels are painted by members of the Turri family, including the ceiling frescoes (1842) by Mosè Turri in the Baptistery. Lampugnani frescoed many of the chapels.^[2]

References

1. Visita Milano official tourist site, entry on church.
2. Official Parish site Archived November 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine., history and artwork.

External links

• (Italian) Parrocchia di San Magno