Certosa di Pavia

Building of the church, on the east side of the courtyard, was started in 1396 in Gothic style and continued by Guiniforte Solari (d. 1481) from 1453 onwards. The famous marble facade, a masterpiece of north Italian Early Renaissance architecture, was begun in 1491 to the design of Giovanni Antonio Amadeo (1447-1522) and carried on by Benedetto Briosco in 1500-07; the upper part, however, was left unfinished about 1550. The plinth is adorned with medallions of Roman emperors. Above the windows are niches with numerous statues. The nave, flanked by aisles, is still entirely Gothic in character, but the transepts, choir and dome show Renaissance features. The altarpieces and decoration of the side chapels are mainly 17th century; the splendid choir screen dates from around 1600. Outstanding among the many works of art in the church are the marble recumbent figures of Lodovico Sforza, il Moro (d. 1508) and his wife Beatrice d'Este (d. 1496) by Cristoforo Solari (in north transept); the richly decorated altar (1568) and stalls (1486-98) designed by Bergognone in the choir; a Renaissance fountain (1490) in the lavatorium; to the right of the choir the magnificent tomb of Gian Galeazzo Visconti (d. 1402), begun in 1494 by Gian Cristoforo Romano and Benedetto Briosco but not completed until 1562 (by Galeazzo Alessi and others). In the New Sacristy an "Assumption" by Andrea Solario, and in the Old Sacristy; an ivory polyptychon with scenes from the Old and New Testaments.An elegant Early Renaissance doorway (1466) leads from the south aisle into the Front Cloister (Chiostro Piccolo), with marble colonnades and charming terracotta decoration (1462-72). From the west side there is a fine view of the nave and south transept of the church. Around the Great Cloister, to the rear, are 24 small apartments for monks.