Sant'Alessandro Church

In the proximity of via Torino, this church was built for the order of Barnabites. It consists of a main Greek-cross shaped building topped with a dome and a separate presbytery topped with a dome as well.

The original architect was a Barnabite father. The choice of the shape can be considered one of the late experiments of this kind – based on Bramante’ scheme for San Pietro in Rome and possibly on Galeazzo Alessi’s projects.. As a matter of fact, architect Galeazzo Alessi had been working in Milan after a long stay in Genoa where he had designed the church of Santa Maria Assunta in Carignano. In Sant'Alessandro’s, this scheme is modified by curving the façade profiles with 7th century festoons and tuning the front anew. The façade, decorated with low-reliefs according to the original Renaissance model is sided by two towers. Due to its pronounced horizontality, it differs from the original design of this Renaissance scheme. The church square (even if little known) is one of the best places downtown. The construction began in 1601 to a design of Barnabite Lorenzo Birago who was supported by Francesco Maria Richino as an expert for static instability issues. The interior hosts a rich collection of Lombard Baroque artists of the 17th and 18th century, including Camillo Procaccini (an Assumption in the last chapel of the right nave, a Nativity - one of his masterpiece - in the head chapel of the right nave, and a Crucifixion in the first chapel on the left) and Daniele Crespi (a Flagellation). An Ossana’s work is also a valuable piece. It can be found in the first chapel on the right of the entrance.