Whispers from the past echo through the Antico Camposanto di Mezzate. This small ancient cemetery in Mezzate a fraction of Peschiera Borromeo near Milan stands almost forgotten. Overgrown with weeds it silently guards precious memories. Its first structures date back to the 1700s. It offers a glimpse into the lives of those who once called this land home.
The Antico Camposanto di Mezzate is more than just a graveyard. It’s a poignant reminder of family tragedy and enduring love. The story of Francesco Buzzoni a wealthy landowner from Piedmont unfolds within its weathered stones. Around 1850 he and his wife Maria Bazzana moved to Mezzate. They had many children including Giuseppe and Luigia. Tragedy struck. Giuseppe died from meningitis. His sister Luigia drowned in a sewage pit at just three years old.
Their heartbreaking story is etched in stone. A faded inscription reads Alla dolce memoria dei pargoletti Buzzoni Giuseppe e Luigia. It translates to To the sweet memory of the little Buzzoni children Giuseppe and Luigia. Giuseppe died on February 1 1856 at one year and eight months old. Luigia passed on August 27 1857 aged three.
The Antico Camposanto di Mezzate became a focal point of family devotion. Francesco and Maria returned to their native Lomellina after the loss of their children. Their son Giovanni a lawyer later bought the cemetery land in 1916. He wanted to prevent the remains of his siblings from being moved. The new cemetery in Linate was meant to house all of Mezzate’s burials. Giuseppe and Luigia still rest here in their original graves. Sadly neglect obscures their resting place.
But the Antico Camposanto di Mezzate’s history extends beyond the Buzzoni family. Prevosto Rinaldo Pusterla (1862-1931) is also buried there. He along with Maria Nigra widow of Giovanni Buzzoni established the Buzzoni-Nigra nursery school. It stands today as a legacy of their commitment to the community.
Volunteers have cleared vegetation from the Antico Camposanto di Mezzate. They have revealed many historic gravestones. More work is needed to preserve this poignant place. The Antico Camposanto di Mezzate remains an untouched corner of history. It’s a place where stories of loss and enduring love intertwine. It is a treasure to be protected.