The church of St. Mary of Miracles was built starting in 1493 to house a miraculous icon of Our Lady. Perhaps initially with a central plan, it immediately had an octagonal dome, the work of Giovanni Antonio Amadeo. In the early 16th century a three-aisled complex, covered by a monumental barrel vault, also by Amadeo, and a four-sided portico in the classical style, begun by Cristoforo Solari and later completed perhaps by Cesare Cesariano or Cristoforo Lombardo (the Lombardino), were added to the original building. The massive facade in Mannerist and Eclectic style (late 16th century) was designed by Galeazzo Alessi and built by Martino Bassi. Attached to St. Mary’s is the Romanesque church dedicated to St. Celso, where the relics of the martyred saint are kept with St. Nazaro, whose relics are instead placed in the nearby basilica of St. Nazaro in Brolo. In addition to the facade on Corso Italia, the back of the church complex, where the apses of S. Maria and S. Celso can be seen, is also worth considering.
