Le campane della Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milano

The Order of Preachers arrived in Milan in 1227, eleven years after its foundation by Saint Dominic. In 1460, the convent was moved to a plot of land donated by Count Vimercati, where there was a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Grace used for soldiers' prayers. The new convent was completed in 1469 and in that year construction began on the magnificent church designed by Solari, the city's most famous architect, who was also involved in the construction of Milan Cathedral, the world's first free public hospital and the Carthusian monastery in Pavia. The new church was built with three naves in pure Lombard Gothic style, characterised by the alternation of terracotta for the walls and granite for the columns and capitals. Externally, the church has an imposing gabled façade with a central portal in white marble commissioned by the new Duke Ludovico. In 1492, the lord of Milan chose this church as his family mausoleum, in keeping with the tradition of the noble courts. The project was designed by Bramante and completed in 1493, becoming one of the finest achievements of the Renaissance worldwide. The tribune is characterised by an imposing cube, at the centre of which stands the monumental hemispherical dome. On 7 May 1799, the convent was suppressed and the most precious works were stolen by Napoleon's government. On the night of 15 August 1943, a bombing raid destroyed the cloisters and most of the refectory, sparing Montorfano's Crucifixion and Leonardo Da Vinci's famous Last Supper, one of the most visited works by tourists from all over the world. The Last Supper was the second Italian site to be classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The small bell tower has four bells in the musical scale of E major, made to replace the two ancient bells from 1499 and 1639. The smallest bell was added in 1809 by Michele Comerio, while the oldest remaining bell is a Bonavilla from 1691. The two ancient bells were recast by Bonavilla in 1722; the concert is completed by a fifth bell, added by Barigozzi in 1896 during the restoration work. e' - f' sharp - g' sharp - (a') (e'' flat) The ringing of bells is very rare. Even if the ringing of bells is poorly performed, I am happy to have seen the bells, as this bell tower is inaccessible, having to pass through the cloister to reach the tower. It was a privilege that was granted to me. #travel #church #bells #catholic #cinematic #vlogs #2025 #medieval #catholicchurch #bell #city #history #trip #italy