Chiesa di Santa Maria presso San Satiro

An hidden jewel in the very heart of Milan.
The access to the complex is by via Torino and it's not easy to spot. That's probably why visitors are very few.
From the architectural point of view the painted soffit of the abside is really awesome. When one enters the church, having it right in front, it looks as a normal abside, but while walking in the side asle, the amazing idea of the painter, the Bramante, becomes evident: the painted soffit is a beautiful trompe-l'œil, which visually recreates the effect of an abside where there is no space for it.
For sure this place worths a visit.

Superb detail of a “hidden church” between Milano’s biggest church empire.

Well worth a visit. The outside looks very old, and the inside is immaculate.

Free entry, quite empty, no dress code required.

Well worth a visit.

Church dedicated to St. Satiri, who was the brother of St. Ambrose.
The image of Our Lady with Child Jesus above the main altar is miraculous, because a soldier struck the neck of the Child in anger and it started to bleed. This blood spot is still visible, as well as blood stains on the hand of Mary underneath that spot.
The apse behind the altar is a genius work of deceptive perspective effect. It seems painted from further away, but is actually in 3D and from all sides it seems about 5-8 meters deep, while in reality it is about 1 m.

Church with optical illusion designed in to save space. Amazing the quality considering no computers we're used. Just human brains figuring out it and designing it.

Fantastic place with a lot of history of the Italian Renaissance, everything super renovated and beautiful.

There is this Wooow effect when looking to the best perspective of Donato Bramante. He was a legendary architect (artist, an universal man) that lived in Milan during Ludovico Sforza's govern.

They decided to build this church after listening to a miracle happened about 200 years before, when a drunk man passed in front of the small chapel with the painting of Madonna and Jesus (which now is on the main church altar) and stab Jesus neck. People said it started bleeding.

But the problem of building the church at that place was the lack of space on the back side.

Bramante managed to do the perspective trick and an incredible illusion of 9,6m depth, while he had only 0,96m available.

Even Leonardo da Vinci was involved in the buiding of this church as Carlo Pedretti tells us.

(I am a researcher of Renaissance and da Vinci. For a street walk in Milan see airbnb experiences)

A few minutes walk from the Duomo lies this church. The entrance to the church is very small and you will have to keep an eye finding this place.
Once you go inside, you will find a large no of wall art inside the church.
Entry is free and photography is allowed, so you can easily visit the church and have a look at the magnificent views of its interior.
Tucked away in a small alley in the middle of Milan’s shopping district (via Torino) is Chiesa di Santa Maria presso San Satiro (Church or Basilica of Santa Maria at San Satiro). 95% of people walking this main drag don’t even realize there’s this hidden jewel that most will miss. About a five-minute walk near Milan’s Duomo you’ll find this most remarkable and interesting church in Milan. As you approach the entrance, it’s just an ordinary small church but what’s remarkable about this church is that a great architect and painter Donate Bramante has built a church with an amazing optical illusion dating back in 1482. Viewing from the back as you enter, you’ll see an altar that’s deep as if the altar has an additional depth behind it. Once you get to the front on either side, you’ll see that the nave and the area behind the altar seem much bigger and deeper due to an extraordinary optical illusion. People however are discouraged to go in because they see a sign in front that says no flash photography, they often think though that no photography is allowed. Yes, you are allowed to take pictures but don’t use the flash of course. The interior of the church is dark but to get a much nicer picture, there’s a coin operated machine to the left as you enter that can lights up the front altar. You drop your 1 Euro coin and surprise yourself with great picture taking opportunity! Better hurry though, the lighting doesn’t last long so take as many pictures as you want and enjoy the beautiful scene! Definitely not to be missed while in Milan.

Nice church known for his its false apse.
The choir, which had to be truncated a depth of only 90 cm (3.0 ft) due to the presence of the road Via Falcone behind the church, was replaced by Bramante with a painted perspective, realizing in this way one of the first examples of trompe-l'œil in history of art.

It is a magnificent church located in the heart of Milan, near Piazza Duomo. It is the only one in the world to remember San Satiro, elder brother of Sant'Ambrogio, which is represented inside in a splendid painting.
The interior creates a sense of pleasant astonishment, alternating lights and shadows with paintings and scrolls, and, behind the altar, an apse seems to stand out, well complemented by columns and decorations. However, when one proceeds towards the altar, one realizes that one cannot pass, since there is little less than a meter of space: the apse is, in reality, an optical illusion, an illusory perspective and does not exist . This illusion was created by Donato Bramante, one of the greatest Italian architects, who used the reduced space of the church to create the fake apse which measures 97 centimeters instead of 9 meters and 70 planned in the original project.
It is very beautiful to remain in the silence of the church and admire, in the light of candles, the images and the faith of the people who alternate in the visit and in the prayers.
It is thus possible to enjoy a moment of reflection in the heart of a city where life is conditioned by the fast pace of business.

The Grand Illusion - The expansion of the church required space behind the altar where there was only 91cm. The area was transformed by architect Donato Bramante using trompe d’ oeil that gave the optical illusion the space was 10m - an increase of 10x. The amazing skill and artistry is not something to be missed.

Amazing painting in this church 🥰

We fall in tears when our family prays together in this beautiful church, this place have a great aura in spirit.

It's a beautiful place the sculptures are excellent

The main attraction of this church is its fake apse (for those who know what an apse actually is). It is a 15th Century trompe-l'oeil, an optical illusion painted by Renaissance genius Bramante.

Our host in Milan recommended we visit this wonderful church and I am indebted to Vasco for his advice. What a find! Designed by the famous Renaissance architect Bramante - chief architect of St Peter’s in Rome - the church sits quietly set back amidst the hubbub of Via Torino’s gawdy shops and noisy traffic. Inside you are in for a treat. Bramante’s trick with perspective and design leads you into thinking there’re is a deep fourth transept when actually there is none. Incredible workmanship and skill. Go and see it!

One of the most interesting places in Milan. Bramante made a miracle in the apsis!

Beautiful church hidden in the center of Milano, Bramante’s trompe l’oeil in the altar is brilliant.

Milanese Renaissance gem dedicated to St. Satyrus.

This churxh hides in the smal streets of Milano, and it worth the visit. Especially because of the altar huge drawing.

The apse behind the altar is spectacular. It appears to be rounded but when you get to the altar you see it is flat. The artist has created an optical illusion. Like so many other churches in Rome, the art work is fantastic.

There was one old lady who was the volunteer in the church, she was very glad to tell me the story of the church, She made my day.