page_title: Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, plan. Nederlands: St. Ambrisiuskerk, Milaan, plattegrond.
context_page_description: The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio is a church in the centre of Milan, northern Italy.
context_section_description: The church is mostly built in brickwork of different origins and colors, with parts of stone and white plastering.  The current Romanesque church was begun around 1080. The nave dates to about 1128 and the rib vaults of the nave are from about 1140.
  The original edifice, like the great churches of Rome of the same epoch, belonged to the basilica type; it consisted of a central nave lighted from the clerestory, two side aisles, an apse, and an atrium.  Investigations made in 1864 have established the fact that the nave and the aisles of the existing basilica correspond with those of the primitive church; the atrium, however, which dates from the 9th century, and two smaller apses, flanking a new central apse of greater depth than the original, were erected. The altar occupies about the same place as in the time of St. Ambrose, and the columns of the ciborium over the altar appear never to have been disturbed; they still rest on the original pavement.
  In the following centuries the edifice underwent several restorations and partial reconstructions, assuming the current appearance in the 12th century. The basilica plan of the original edifice was maintained, with an apse and two aisles, all with apses, and a portico with  arches supported by semicolumns and pilasters preceding the entrance. The latter was used to house the catechumens who attended part of the Mass prior to receiving baptism (this custom disappeared in the early 11th century); the portico, whose entrance has four blind arcades with an open one in the centre, was later used for civil and religious meetings.
caption: Plan of the basilica, showing the arcades and church
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