Cloisters of Sant'Ambrogio

[1] Agostino Gemelli bought the old monastery of Sant'Ambrogio, freed from the transfer of the military hospital, which until then had been housed there.

When it became the seat of Cattolica, Father Gemelli entrusted the restoration Giovanni Muzio (who also designed the Triennale di Milano), who worked for about twenty years, from 1928 to late forties, also passing through the destruction caused by the bombing of 'August 1943 and the subsequent reconstruction.

Notable is the restoration of the cloisters by Bramante; century refectory of the former became Great Hall, where he wanted to, on the Brera, the wall fresco by Callisto Piazza (1545) inspired by the Wedding at Cana, the library and chapel, with modulated by high walls sculptures Manzù.

First came to light remains of the Roman necropolis (first and third century) that occupied this area, just outside the walls of the urban settlement of Mediolanum, then, the most significant find: a large circular brick structure dating from the late sixteenth or the early seventeenth century, which was identified with the ice of the Cistercian monastery, the "la conserva de giazzo" spoken of by contemporary documents Sforza.

This solution will be successful as a type since it was particularly suited to accommodate both large rooms on two levels, such as cafeterias and libraries, both cells for the monks on two floors.