Did you know that the Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci in Milan was once a hotbed of resistance during World War II? Right here before you stands a building with a rich and often untold history. The Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci a prestigious classical high school in Milan wasn’t always located on Via Beroldo. It began its journey in 1932 on Via Lulli. Those were turbulent times in Italy. The school’s dedication to Giosuè Carducci a prominent Italian poet occurred during the height of Fascism. The decision was made amidst nationalistic fervor. The Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci however was more than just a place of learning.
During World War II the Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci became a hub for the Resistance. Students and teachers secretly supported the partisan activities of Quintino Di Vona. Among them were brave individuals like Armando Cossutta Gianfranco Maris and Maria Massariello Arata. Their actions were clandestine and dangerous. They risked their lives to oppose the fascist regime. The school’s involvement made it a target. On January 19 1944 members of the Ettore Muti squad a notorious fascist group raided the Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci. Their aim was recruitment for the Italian Social Republic. Instead their actions resulted in violence. Enzo Capitano a student was brutally attacked and later deported to Ravensbrück concentration camp where he died. The Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci was a refuge for many anti-fascist including Jewish students who suffered persecution.
The Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci moved to its current location on Via Beroldo in 1959. The years between 1962 and 1963 saw the school collaborate with the Piccolo Teatro di Milano. Student protests took place at the Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci foreshadowing the events of 1968. Around 2009 a remarkable discovery was made. Fausto Melotti’s “I Sette Savi” seven sculptures were found in the school’s storage. They had been commissioned in 1960 for the new building on Via Beroldo. The sculptures were sadly damaged. The Melotti family initially refused to return them to the Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci. Even Vittorio Sgarbi and alumnus Gerry Scotti intervened in the matter. The Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci boasts a rich history filled with notable alumni. These include Gino Strada Lella Costa and Valerio Onida.
Today the main building of the Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci houses an impressive aula magna a library with 30000 volumes and various labs. The school has also published its own journal “Mr. Giosuè” and “Simposio” a literary collection. The Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci continues to thrive as a center of learning and culture. It is a testament to the resilience and spirit of those who studied and worked there throughout its storied past. The Liceo Classico Giosuè Carducci is more than just a school. It is a living monument to resistance learning and artistic expression.