Whose bone is that? You might ask yourself that, standing before the Duomo of Milan. Take a closer look at the facade, to the right of the central doorway. There, nestled in the lower part of the marble frieze, is a small dragon. This is no ordinary decoration. This is the Drago Tarantasio, immortalized in stone. The Drago Tarantasio wasn’t always a silent stone carving. Legend tells of a time when it terrorized the region, lurking in the depths of Lake Gerundo. This lake, long since vanished, was said to be a breeding ground for disease and fear. This fearsome dragon, a creature of myth and legend, was said to devour children and animals alike. Its breath, a poisonous miasma, spread terror through the Lombardy countryside. The stories vary about who finally defeated the beast. Some whisper of Frederick Barbarossa, others of Saint Christopher. A popular tale credits the victory to a member of the Visconti family, forever linking the dragon to Milanese history. Look for their coat of arms, and you’ll see the Biscione, a serpent devouring a child, a chilling reminder of the Drago Tarantasio.
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