Basilica of San Simpliciano

The Basilica of San Simpliciano is an early Christian church in central Milan, Lombardy, whose origins trace back to late antiquity. The present building shows Romanesque and medieval phases and has long been part of Milan’s ecclesiastical heritage.

The nave and side aisles with medieval decorative work and a crypt that preserves relics tied to the church’s patron saint, Saint Simplicianus. The basilica’s fabric displays successive building phases from late antiquity through the Middle Ages.

The church was founded on an early Christian site and was rebuilt and modified in later medieval centuries to produce the structure seen today. It remains an active parish and a notable early-medieval monument in Milan.

San Simpliciano is located close to Milan’s historic centre, within the city’s older ecclesiastical quarter.

• Early Christian origins: Origins date to the early Christian period, with substantial medieval rebuilding that produced the present Romanesque and later features.

What to See #

• Main church interior: The basilica's early Christian plan includes a nave and side aisles with medieval and later decorative work; interior spaces contain frescoes and liturgical furnishings.
• Crypt: A crypt beneath the church holds relics associated with the basilica's patron and early Christian origins.