Cimitero di Chiaravalle

Tucked away in the southeastern corner of Milan, near the Cistercian Abbey of Santa Maria di Chiaravalle, lies the Cimitero di Chiaravalle. This cemetery isn’t your typical city graveyard. It’s a place where the rural landscape blends seamlessly with the architecture. The original section of Cimitero di Chiaravalle, opened in 1936, is almost square. It’s enclosed by a portico that houses the columbaria, like a protective wall. The building’s red brick exterior faces the public. The interior, however, features white stone and brick arches and columns. These open onto a central space filled with family tombs and burial plots. Lush vegetation grows between them, adding to the serene atmosphere. The Cimitero di Chiaravalle is a study in contrasts. Its geometric regularity and enclosed nature are disrupted by deliberate exceptions. The main and secondary entrances, the chapel, and service areas stand out. Yet they remain connected to the enclosing wall, creating a harmonious whole. The main entrance, a three-part structure taller than the surrounding walls, faces Via Sant’Arialdo. Two smaller entrances are positioned axially between the main entrance and the four corners of the square. These corners are marked by taller, windowless structures. Similar openings can be found on the two side walls, forming an imaginary cross. The elegant ossuary stands at the central vertex of this cross. Opposite the main entrance, flanked by two service buildings, is a shorter wall housing a chapel with a crypt. Architect Aline Leroy expanded the Cimitero di Chiaravalle in 2008. This expansion extended to the northeast and southwest sides, enlarging the cemetery to its current 82,000 square meters. This newer section has a more irregular boundary. It opens up to the surrounding landscape in some areas. Simple tree-lined paths mark the ground burial plots. This creates a peaceful atmosphere, blending the natural world with the solemn purpose of the cemetery.