The church of the Santissimo Redentore, or church of the Redeemer, is a Catholic place of worship in Legnano, inaugurated in 1902 in Legnanello, a district of the city.
What to see
Legnanello is one of the two original cores of the city of the Carroccio, and with it is connected the first document that mentions the settlement of Legnano, a deed of 23 October 789 concerning an exchange of land. The parish of Legnanello was established on 13 August 1898 and with it came the need for a new church. The first stone was laid on 26 May 1901 and the church was finished in less than a year thanks to contributions from Barbara Melzi, the archbishop of Milan Andrea Carlo Ferrari and many parishioners; it was consecrated by Archbishop Ferrari on 30 November 1902.
The church is in the Lombard Romanesque style, with three aisles divided by two rows of marble columns and ending in an apse; the capitals show the symbols of Christianity and the ceiling has wooden trusses. The high altar and the pulpit, in Carrara marble, are in the Byzantine style and inspired by those of the basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan and the Byzantine basilicas of Ravenna; the Milan basilica also influenced the bell tower. The exterior is of exposed brick and serizzo stone, and on the left is an octagonal building intended as a baptistery. In 1923 mosaics referring to the figure of the Most Holy Redeemer were made in the lunettes of the façade and the baptistery. In the apse is painted, on a gold ground, the Transfiguration of Jesus; the bronze Way of the Cross in panels and the stained-glass windows are also notable.
Visiting
The church is at Legnanello, a district of Legnano. The sources consulted give no opening hours or visiting arrangements: check them, for example on the official site legnanello.it.
Our editors' tip
The church holds a painting of 1635 by Giambattista and Francesco Lampugnani, from the nearby church of the Purification, today Santa Rita, showing the Purification.
