It is one of the oldest churches in Milan. The construction began outside of Porta Vercellina in 379 AD. It was a small church with a nave and two aisles. After 7 years it was consecrated by Bishop Saint Ambrose who after his death became Milan's beloved patron saint. He was buried here in 397 AD.
During the 8th century the Benedicts, with the approbation of the archbishop Pietro, built a convent adjacent to the basilica.
The Campanile dei Monaci, the bell tower, was built between 822 and 859. By the 10th century with the growth in population the basilica became inadequate in size thus the enlarging and restructuring began. The new apse, the new and higher tambour and the left bell tower in Lombard Romanesque style know as the Campanile dei Canonici were built. The construction of the basilica completed in 1889.
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