Milan · Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio
Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio
The old church of Milan's patron saint, a Romanesque basilica with a calm atrium. Entry to the basilica is free, and a separate treasury museum sits beside it.
- 1 h
- Free
- Booking: not needed
- Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio
Data checked on October 5, 2026
The basilica goes back sixteen centuries to Saint Ambrose, the bishop of Milan, and its present Romanesque form is the model for many Lombard churches. You enter through a quiet porticoed atrium and see the golden altar, the apse mosaic and the crypt. The Sacellum of San Vittore in Ciel d'Oro holds a mosaic portrait of Ambrose.
What to look for
- The golden altar by Vuolvino
- The apse mosaic and the crypt
- The Sacellum of San Vittore in Ciel d'Oro
- The atrium and the Column of the Devil on the square
Opening hours
| Monday | 10:00 am–12:00 pm, 2:30 pm–6:00 pm | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 am–12:00 pm, 2:30 pm–6:00 pm | |
| Wednesday | 10:00 am–12:00 pm, 2:30 pm–6:00 pm | |
| Thursday | 10:00 am–12:00 pm, 2:30 pm–6:00 pm | |
| Friday | 10:00 am–12:00 pm, 2:30 pm–6:00 pm | |
| Saturday | 10:00 am–12:00 pm, 2:30 pm–6:00 pm | |
| Sunday | 3:00 pm–5:00 pm |
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 18:00, Sunday from 15:00 to 17:00. The church is closed to visitors during services. The parish site posts summer closures and holiday timetables. The treasury museum is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 18:00, and Sunday from 14:30 to 17:00.
Source: Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio, checked October 5, 2026
Tickets and booking
Free. The basilica alone is free for visitors. The Ambrosius treasury museum has its own ticket: full price 5 and under 18 pay 3.
Getting there
Take M2 to Sant'Ambrogio, and the basilica is a minute's walk from the stop.
Tip
Check the visiting hours first, because the church closes at midday and again for services. The treasury has its own entrance on the square.