The monastery was founded on 10 June 1463 to celebrate the union between the previously rival families of the
Visconti and the
Sforza, who had contended for the rule in the
Duchy of Milan. An inscription near the high altar reads: "Here
Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, joined in marriage Biancamaria daughter of
Filippo Visconti: this as habit it meant, and with the word and the ring in the year 1447". The building was designed by the ducal military engineer,
Bartolomeo Gadio. The church has a façade divided in two storeys by an
entablature supported by four fake columns in
Doric style, which are surmounted by a
tympanum and five small spires. The entrance, over which is a rose window, is supported by two
Ionic columns with a Baroque flavour. The interior is on the Latin Cross plan, with a nave and six chapels on each side. It houses artworks from the
Campi brothers,
Bernardino Gatti,
Giacomo Bertesi and
Gabriele Capra. The frescoes of Bernardino in the cupola are considered among his masterpieces. The bell tower is octagonal in plan, the upper part being cylindrical in shape. ==External links==