Saint Lorenzo

Farmhouse and Church inserted in the urban context, while maintaining their rural identity, one step away from Linate airport.

Alongside the east ring road; place a little out of this world, with no on-site activities (eg Bar); little church not particularly noteworthy

Although certainly not impressive and rich in artistic testimonies, the Church and the remains of the village that surrounds it offer an important testimony of the history of the agricultural region around Milan. The Church was built in 1267 (as a plaque on the façade recalls) by the religious order of the Umiliati of Santa Maria di Brera, in a territory of ancient origins called Mons luparium or Monte dei lupi, hence the current Monluè. Around stood a closed courtyard farmhouse with monastic buildings and agricultural cottages, surrounded by meadows and arable land, to form an agricultural village, called grangia. The entire complex, including the mill, which has been heavily remodeled, is still recognizable today, although divided, and represents one of the best surviving examples of that type of organization. With the dissolution of the Umiliati by Cardinal Carlo Borromeo in 1571, the village passed through various properties, until it became part of the Pio Albergo Trivulzio heritage (early 20th century). The village of Monluè, which at the beginning of the twentieth century had a thousand inhabitants, was depopulated before and after the Second World War. To decree its definitive death was the construction of the East Ring Road, opened to traffic in 1971, which completely isolated the ancient agricultural village, squeezed between the Ring Road, the Lambro and Linate Airport. The Church was built in terracotta like many other churches of the period (think, in addition to the great Milanese buildings, also in Chiaravalle, Viboldone and Mirasole). The original Romanesque-Gothic forms are clearly visible in the small gabled façade with the characteristic portal with a false porch, two mullioned windows and an oculus. The church underwent heavy alterations inside, which was probably decorated with medieval fresco cycles. The ceiling of the nave is coffered and dates back to an intervention in 1584. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, four quadrangular side chapels were added and the windows of the facade were walled up to allow the installation of the organ. The Church was finally restored in 1877. The imposing square bell tower is punctuated by cornices and hanging arches. Remains of valuable medieval decorations adorn the beautiful chapter house. In the nearby courtyard of the farmhouse there is still a monumental poplar. From the church you reach the Monluè Park, which extends towards the course of the Lambro, crossed by paths that can be traveled on foot or by bicycle through meadows and woods.

Historic Abbey of Milan, the interior a little bare but effective. Too bad that the whole part of the farm is in degradation and abandonment. Still worth a visit.

It is a beautiful medieval church, small and very pretty, it deserves to be visited

It seems strange, yet a few meters from the ring road (CAMM exit) is this beautiful, quiet and well-preserved 12th century abbey. The interior was modernized in the Baroque era, but the exterior is, although restored, still original. It is worth the visit

A place that deserves more promotion: just outside the metropolitan chaos, an oasis of tranquility with a large courtyard that would lend itself to markets, fairs and tastings.

Unfortunately, I cannot give more stars to this ancient church which, although admirably recovered from the outside and can be visited, leaves something to be desired with an interior that no longer has anything medieval, having been too remodeled. I had read about important finds in terms of frescoes in the chapter house of the cloister, but how to recognize the cloister? No trace remains, yet peering through the glass of a door located to the left of the main facade of the church, you can see elegant masonry arches with frescoed residues. There is no indication of what this environment is (cluttered with chairs and perhaps used as a conference room or auditorium?), When it opens, a minimum of news for those who arrive. There is the only panel relating to the church, on the back. The church is accessed from the side door. On the bricks of the masonry you can see various graffiti, especially crosses, probably left by the faithful and pilgrims. In a niche of the church there is the original simulacrum of Maria Bambini, with an explanation of the tradition. The rural complex of thirteenth-century foundation (XIII century) is accessible but is in obvious decay and there is no indication of "what" to see. Everything seems to be fixed. An impromptu parking can be found on the back of the church, which is located near the ring road, as soon as you leave it. At one time it had to be in the open countryside and shine with beauty, like her other companions who are part of the "La via delle abbazie" circuit.