Santa Maria della Passione, central nave
The sixteenth century Basilica of Santa Maria della Passione, considered one of the most capacious and beautiful of the city's churches, is situated in the heart of Milan. It is second only to the Duomo, Milan's magnificent Cathedral, as far as its size and imposing proportions are concerned. It was constructed on the initiative of Daniel Birago (1486), a rich prelate, who donated it to the Canons of Saint Augustine (Canonici Regolari Lateranesi di Sant'Agostino). Work on the building, planned by Giovanni Battagio, was carried on step by step by Cristoforo Lombardo who also designed the dome, finished in 1530 (49.7 m metres with 23 metres letting in the light) and the octagonal drum. This original large construction on a Greek-cross plan was modified in 1573 according to a Martino Bassi's design lengthening one of the arms into a long nave with two aisles and six side chapels converting the structure to a Latin-cross layout. The exuberant Baroque façade enriched with statues and decorations was realized by Rusnati in 1692-1729. The three portals at the entrance are surmounted by high relief work representing the Deposition from the Cross in the centre, the Crowning of the Thorns on the left and the Scourging at the Pillar on the right. The inside of the church is an authentic art gallery. It is one of the most famous churches in Milan as far as the exceptional paintings conserved here are concerned. Some of the most famous works of art are listed below.Portraits of Popes and Lateran Canons hang on the pillars of the octagon below the dome painted both by Daniele Crespi (1598/1600-1630) and other artists not from the Lombard cultural area. Also by Crespi are paintings expressing a great sense of mysticism: the Fast of St. Charles found in the first chapel in the left aisle and the scenes of the Passion depicted on both sides of the left hand organ panels while Carlo Urbino painted those on the right with the same theme in 1558. The left transept has a large Last Supper by Gaudenzio Ferrari (1475-1546); to the left is a Crucifixion by Giulio Campi (1505-1572). In the right transept a Deposition with Sts. Ambrose and Augustine by Bernardino Luini (1480-/85-1532) can be seen creating together a pictorial narrative of terrible pain. The beautiful decorations on the basin in the main apse depicting the Coronation of the Virgin are by Panfilo Nuvolone (1609-1662). The central octagon under Lombardino's sixteenth century dome is the heart of the basilica. Eight paintings of Christ's Passion that hang on the pillars virtually compose a Stations of the Cross: "Christ's scourging at the pillar", the "Crowning with thorns", "Ecce Homo, Behold the Man", the "Walk to Calvary", "Christ being nailed to the Cross", "Christ offered gall to drink", "Christ held by an angel", an "Angel with Christ's shroud" by Ambrogio da Fossano known as "Il Bergognone" (1481-1522). His son Bernardino painted the precious frescoes painted on the walls of the Sala Capitolare showing Bishops and Saints of the Lateran order. The Basilica has been a seat of intense musical activity since 1500. Between the 16th and 17th centuries two organs were built and placed opposite each other under the imposing dome. In the right recess of the presbytery is an organ by Gian Giacomo Antegnati (1558) and on the left an instrument by the famous organ builder Valvassori who also created the organ found in Milan's Duomo.
