The most beautiful churches cathedrals basilicas and chapels Italy

Built in the 13th century by the Augustinians, the interior of this church was refurbished in the Renaissance style in the 15th century, with the addition of a portico on the left side. The building has many Renaissance paintings, especially in the Bentivoglio Chapel, which is decorated with frescoes by Lorenzo Costa. In the adjacent oratory of Santa Cecilia (access from Via Zamboni 15), frescoes by Amico Aspertini from the 16th century can also be admired.

It is very bright and decorated very carefully. And as a result, it was a church-based church that welcomed the just dead bodies of the Ducal family.

Built on the site of an ancient pilgrimage site of importance since the Trecento (i.e. the 14th century in Italy), and since then redesigned, the Basilica of St Mary of Impruneta was consecrated in 1060 by Cardinal Umberto di Selva Candida. Its high crenellated bell tower dates from the 13th century. The interior has a large single nave in Renaissance style, a typical polygonal apse, and includes works by Jacopo Chimenti (1554-1640), trained in Maso San Friano's workshop, and the famous Florentine sculptor Luca della Robbia (1400-1482).

The reputation of this sanctuary, one of the most famous Marian sanctuaries in Tuscany, is based on the cult of the image of the Virgin Mary. Indeed, in the chapel of the Virgin Mary is preserved the famous icon of the Madonna which attracted so many pilgrims during the 14th century, and which tradition assigns to Saint Luke the Evangelist. According to legend, when Christianity arrived, the image of the Virgin Mary was taken to Florence by Saint Romolo. Due to persecutions, he hid the image in pruinetis ("among the pines"), hence the name Impruneta.

The last major restoration of the building dates back to the 1950s. The church was seriously damaged during the Second World War.

Finally, the museum (museo del Tesoro) contains many precious objects (illuminated manuscripts, sacred clothing, gold and silver jewellery...) related to the rich history of this Basilica of Santa Maria.

Of medieval origin, it was renovated in 1494 by Biagio Rossetti, the architect of the Estensi. The interior is rich in art of the th and th centuries.

Gothic church, it houses th century frescoes attributed to Tommaso da Modena.

A church with two Gothic naves.

Mr. 3 Zara. The upper part of this church is the th century, while its lower part of the Renaissance. Its history is linked to that of Charles d'Amboise, the French governor of Milan. It was he who ordered the construction of a chapel in order to shelter a miraculous fountain, formed by the flow of the waters of a fontanile (see «Geography»). The chapel is covered with frescoes due to a student of Bramante and protected by a long portico.

In the 12 side chapels of this th century church, you can see beautiful frescoes from the beginning of the th century, including the Adoration of the Mages of G. Battista Secchi.

Beautiful Baroque church of 1739 with the double facade of the wavy cornices.

Built in 1496, this chapel keeps on its facade and inside beautiful frescoes from the end of the th century.

The church of San Alessandro, renovated in the th century, welcomes in addition to works by Bassano, Romanino, Campin, Cavagnaet Salmeggia, the famous Deposizione of Lorenzo Lotto, one of the most dramatic works of the painter and full of spirituality.

Leaving Melegnano in the direction of Milan, you will find this church where you can keep an altar whose feet are made of bones of the French and Swiss soldiers fallen to the battle of Marignan.

Near San Bernadino, this 1930 th century church with its refaite facade in has many paintings, from Jacopo Bassano, Lorenzo Costa and, of course, a beautiful Trinity of Lorenzo Lotto.

One of the most interesting churches in the lower city for the works of art preserved there. Among others, the Madonna in Trono of Lorenzo Lotto (1521), the polyptyque in eight parts of Bergognone and San Giovanni Battista of Andrea Previtali (1516).

Above the altar, one can admire a Virgin Virgin with the saints Bernardin, Jean-Baptiste and Antoine de Lotto.