Did you know this cemetery is an open-air museum? Welcome to the Cimitero Monumentale in Milan. It is more than just a final resting place. It is a testament to Milan’s artistic and historical legacy.
The Cimitero Monumentale was conceived after the Italian independence in 1861. The idea was to consolidate Milan’s many small cemeteries. This led to two major cemeteries. The Cimitero Monumentale was for the wealthy. The Cimitero Maggiore was for the common people.
Carlo Maciachini designed the Cimitero Monumentale between 1863 and 1866. It started as an 18-hectare space. It later expanded to 25 hectares. A central lane lined with trees leads through the cemetery. It goes from the Famedio to the Ossario and Crematorio.
Wealthy Milanese families competed to build elaborate tombs. They commissioned sculptures of angels and other figures. The cemetery features various architectural styles. These range from Egyptian to Art Nouveau.
The Famedio is the main building. Its facade features black and white stripes. This hall of fame contains tombs of honored citizens. Novelist Alessandro Manzoni is among them.
The Civico Mausoleo Palanti is for Milanese citizens of merit. It also holds a memorial. This memorial commemorates about 800 Milanese. They died in Nazi concentration camps.
The Cimitero Monumentale also has sections for non-Catholics and Jewish people. Near the entrance, there is an exhibition. It shows the cemetery’s historical development. It even includes electric hearses from the 1920s.
Many famous artists contributed to the Cimitero Monumentale. Their works turned the cemetery into an open-air museum. Visitors can see works by Adolfo Wildt and Giò Ponti. Arturo Martini and Lucio Fontana also have works here.
The Bocconi family tomb features a marble baldachin. Statues of mourning women decorate it. A crucified Jesus stands at its foot. The Campari tomb shows Jesus and the apostles at the Last Supper. Giannino Castiglioni created these statues. He also worked on Antonio Bernocchi’s mausoleum.
The Cimitero Monumentale is a journey through art and history. It is a place of remembrance. It is a showcase of Italian sculpture and architecture. As you wander, notice the details and the stories they tell. Each tomb reflects the life and times of those who rest here. The Cimitero Monumentale is an unmissable place.