Four Milanese Churches Showcasing Contemporary Art and Architecture

Amid the pandemic, contemporary art and architecture have found a unique platform in Milan's churches, as museums remain shuttered. The Piano delle Nuove Chiese initiative, established in the 1950s under Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini (later known as Pope Paul VI) and Enrico Mattei, the Eni president, sought to improve sacred environments. Key highlights include: the Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi al Fopponino (1964) designed by Gio Ponti, showcasing a concrete exterior and a 12x8 meter altarpiece by Francesco Tabusso (1975); Santa Maria Annunciata in Chiesa Rossa (1932, updated in 1960) featuring Dan Flavin's last light installation (1997); Chiesa di Santa Barbara in San Donato Milanese (1955) by Mario Bacciocchi; and Chiesa di Santa Marcellina in San Giuseppe alla Certosa (1958) created by Mario Tedeschi and Carlo Ramous.