Chiesa di San Fedele (Church of St. Fidelis), Milan

The church of Saint Fidelis is located in a beautiful and peaceful square, a few steps away from the Duomo of Milan and Palazzo Marino. In close proximity are numerous other significant structures that are prime examples of Milan's extraordinary architectural advancements during the late 16th century.

Resembling the Church of the Gesù in Rome, the edifice represents one of the most important examples of Counter-Reformation architecture. It was originally dedicated to Santa Maria in Solariolo, dating back to 313, before being renamed to Saint Fidelis in the 11th century. The Jesuits reconstructed it in 1569, and several architects worked on its construction over the years, including Pellegrino Tibaldi and Martino Bassi. Inside, there are chapels, confessionals, and a 16th-century wooden choir previously located in the church of Santa Maria della Scala. A crypt located beneath houses the remains of four Habsburg princes and the heart of Maria Carolina, the young daughter of Archduke Ranieri who died of leukemia.

After the Jesuit order's suppression in 1814, the church was controlled by the nearby church of Santa Maria della Scala, which was later demolished to make way for the Teatro alla Scala. After World War II, the Jesuits regained control and began a series of social, cultural, and artistic activities, founding the San Fedele Cultural Foundation.

The Church's history continues beyond the 16th century, with contemporary art exhibitions coexisting with the building's decorations, architectural structures, and paintings. A small museum itinerary inside showcases works by artists such as Carlo Carra, Lucio Fontana, Mario Sironi, David Simpson, Mimmo Paladino, Jannis Kounellis, Sean Shanahan, Claudio Parmiggiani, and Nicola De Maria.

In the first chapel on the left, we find the large altarpiece of the "Deposition of Christ" by Simone Peterzano, the teacher of Caravaggio. The first chapel on the right has an altar dedicated to Ignazio di Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, depicted in an altarpiece created by Giovanni Battista Crespi. The wooden sacristy of Saint Fidelis, carved in the 17th century by the Taurino brothers in walnut wood, is one of the most valuable examples of wood carving in Milan.