Could a church be built upon a graveyard? Here in Milan, the Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi al Fopponino stands as a testament to the city’s ever-evolving landscape. The name “Fopponino” itself hints at its peculiar past. Derived from the Milanese word “foppone,” meaning “large pit” or “common grave,” it reveals that this area once housed the Fopponino di Porta Vercellina, a cemetery established during the devastating plague of 1576. As you stand before the Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi al Fopponino, you’re not just looking at a church. You’re looking at a symbol of Milan’s resilience, its ability to transform spaces of sorrow into beacons of faith. The modern, minimalist structure designed by Gio Ponti, with its stark geometric lines and expansive use of reinforced concrete, stands in stark contrast to the memory of the plague. This architectural style, a favorite of the Rationalist movement, speaks to a forward-looking vision, a desire to embrace the new. The church’s connection to its somber past is not entirely erased, however. The Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi al Fopponino reminds us that life and death, faith and history are threads woven into the very fabric of this city.
Nuovo Cimitero di Cologno Monzese
“A timeless sanctuary,” the old woman whispered, her gaze fixed on the rows of marble within Nuovo Cimitero di Cologno