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The Archiepiscopal Seminary “Pio XI” of Milan is on a hill in the town of Venegono Inferiore, near Varese.
Here the candidates for priesthood receive a theological preparation.
The complex is very large, with a volume of 230.000 cubic meters, and it covers about 370,000 square meters.
It was built in the neoclassical style, it’s easily recognizable for its tower of 64 meters.
The seminary is spread over several levels and it is partly open to visitors.
The complex has two entrances: the first one is in front of the building, through the porter’s lodge, while the second one, accessible to disabled people, is from the parking of biennio.
After the main entrance, on the left, you enter in the hallway; here you can see two large staircases, with a majestic statue of Pope Pio XI.
A note: the statue of the virgin Mary on the roof of this wing of the building is the exact replica of the famous “Madonnina”, on the top of Milan Cathedral.
Most of coverings is made of marble; if you look carefully at the slabs, you can see traces of ancient fossils.
Access to the second floor is granted also by two lifts, one behind the concierge, the other on the opposite side of the main lobby, after the hallway.
From the upper floor you can access to the library, the garden, the Natural History Museum and more areas of the complex.
Through the corridors and a system or stairs, you can also reach the basilica, the crypt and the church.
Once there was a lyceum, but it was closed many years ago.
There are still two old classrooms as evidence of a past where priests studied physics and chemistry.
In the Seminary, the main study environments still in use are the Library and the Natural History Museum.
The Library
The history of the library begins many centuries ago; commissioned by St. Charles Borromeo, its first location was in Corso di Porta Orientale, in Milan (1565).
From its foundation to the present, the activity stopped only during the Napoleonic period (1796 – 1815).
Actually, the library is constantly updated, and it preserves both ancient and modern books.
The library was originally founded only for students and professors of the Seminary, but today it’s also open to the people.
The older books, from the 15th Century, are preserved in a special room with monitored conditions of temperature and damp.
The large library contains all kinds of books; in particular, ancient illuminated books are very fascinating, making this place rich and interesting.
I recommend a guided tour to better grasp the richness of this collection.
The Natural History Museum
The Museum, like the library, conducts a serious work of analysis of the finds.
There are 92 windows with many objects, divided in four categories (mineralogy, petrography with stones, palaeontology and zoology) and organized chronologically.
In the bigger windows there are specimens of terrestrial animals, birds, fishes, aquatic mammals and insects.
The zoological section boasts the presence of a five-meters-long Nile crocodile.
The collection of the museum
The collection of the museum is very rich and variegated; its activity is very dynamic, with frequent changes in the exhibition.
Every corner of the Museum is exploited to the maximum; among the most interesting pieces there is a snake skin of about 4 meters.
The number of fossils and artefacts is huge; many of these were found by scholars of the 19th century like Antonio Stoppani, after whom the Museum is named.
The older fossils are more than a billion years old, but there are also the remains of modern animals.
Many pieces come from ancient collections (created in the 19th Century), previously preserved in the old Monza Seminary (which no longer exists).
The collection is in good state, thanks to the hard work of volunteers.
The Basilica
To reach the basilica you have to go through wide corridors connecting the different areas of the seminary.
The basilica with three naves is in Neoclassical style, like the seminary.
The style is simple yet very impressive; thanks to the staff (clerical and not) the building is in excellent condition.
Frescos, made with the pointillism technique, are very well preserved.
The crypt
The crypt is located under the presbytery of the basilica.
Its peculiarity consists in its coverings, made with Candoglia marble tiles (the same material used for Milan Cathedral). The columns, instead, are in pink granite.
Greek frets that separate the coatings are little glass ampoules containing relics.
On the sides of the entrance there are two little altars, under which there are other bone relics.
The “Quadriennio” chapel
Few meters separate the crypt from the “Quadriennio” (literally: four-year period) chapel.
Its architecture is simple, with floors and walls completely covered by a particular marble, the famous “Red Verona marble”.
Bregagna’s frescoes, on the sides of the nave, are perfectly preserved.
Many fossils of ammonites are embedded in marble slabs.
The visit itinerary
The visit of the seminary is free, but you can make a donation in the urns present in the complex. Access is allowed only on foot.
I suggest to book a guided tour, because the Seminary is very big.
Visit times may vary, but it takes at least 3 hours to enjoy the best of the site.
Brief history
The construction began on 6th February 1928 and it was completed 1930, after only three years; it was inaugurated in 1935.
The location was chosen as a replacement for the outdated and unhealthy Seminary in Milan.
Thanks to
I want to thank all the staff of the Seminary, and particularly the Rector, for the permission to take photos and write this article; Alberto Rimoldi of the technical office; Alessandro Tedesco, director of the library “Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini”; my dear friend Vittorio Pieroni, Curator of the museum.
Special thanks to Marco Mocchetti of the “Fisogni Museum of the petrol station” for the revision of the texts.
Please note: The Seminary is an active structure, it isn’t a tourist attraction; please visit it with a correct behaviour, and have a nice visit!
How to reach the Archiepiscopal seminary of Milan:
Address.
Archiepiscopal Seminary of Milan, Via Papa Pio XI, 32, 21040 Venegono inferiore VA.
The way to reach the Seminary:
From the way S.P. 233 “Varesina” continue until the roundabout that cross Via Damiano Chiesa, then go straight until the underpass.
Keep the direction for the centre of Venegono Inferiore and cross it for over 320mt, then turn right and continue for over 150mt.
G.P.S. coordinates: 45°44’03.1″N 8°54’26.1″E.
Gallery
Visiting hours
The seminary park is always accessible (on foot).
The guided tour of the library is only on the last Thursday of the month, from 03.00 pm (subject to variation depending on festivities)
More information: +39 0331/867111
Links / Index
The Archiepiscopal seminary of Milan [ITA]
To organize and book a visit of the Seminary with volunteers: accoglienza@seminario.milano.it.
https://bibliotecaseminariomilano.it/visite-guidate/ [ITA]
Where to eat
Where to sleep
