San Maurizio, Milan's 'Sistine Chapel', reopens October 9

The Church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore in Milan reopens on October 9, 2020, after a seven-month closure due to COVID-19. Known as the 'Sistine Chapel of Milan' (a nickname coined by critic Vittorio Sgarbi), the church is famed for its complete fresco cycle by Bernardino Luini and his school (1522–1529), covering walls, vaults, and the tramezzo. The reopening is organized by the Touring Club Italiano under its 'Aperti per Voi' initiative. Access is from Friday to Sunday, 9:30 AM to 4 PM, via the Civico Museo Archeologico di Milano (Corso Magenta 15), with timed entry limited to 10 visitors every 30 minutes. No reservation is needed for individuals; groups of up to 15 (including guide) can enter from 4:30 PM by booking via email. The visit route is one-way: first the Coro delle Monache, then the Aula dei Fedeli. In 2019, the church saw a peak of 6,000 visitors in a single day, many from Asia. The church's structure, originally a Benedictine convent until 1978, features a public nave and a separate nuns' choir behind a grille. Highlights include the Martyrdom of St. Maurice, St. Sigismund offering the church model, a large Noah's Ark fresco in the choir, a starry ceiling, and a poignant Deposition above a small door.