Ever wondered what lies behind these walls of Istituto Penale Minorile Beccaria? This isn’t just another building. It is a place of confinement, reflection and hopefully, transformation.
Istituto Penale Minorile Beccaria has been active since 1970. It houses minors aged 14 to 18 and young adults aged 18 to 25. These individuals are under restrictive orders from Juvenile Judicial Authorities. The facility is located in Milan’s periphery, in the Baggio district, near the Bisceglie metro stop. It stands as one of Italy’s most important juvenile penal institutions.
Originally, the Istituto Penale Minorile Beccaria belonged to the “Beccaria Association”. This association managed both the judicial reformatory and the re-education center. It also oversaw the observation and pre-trial detention institute. Back then, it housed youths deemed “maladjusted” with “irregular conduct and character”. Interestingly, when first built in 1950, the structure lacked bars. These were added later. In the early 1970s, the Istituto Penale Minorile Beccaria transitioned into a juvenile penal institution. By 1973, its management shifted to the Ministry of Grace and Justice. Eventually, it fell under the ownership of the Municipality of Milan.
The Istituto Penale Minorile Beccaria is named after Cesare Beccaria. He was the Marquis of Gualdrasco and Villareggio. He was also Alessandro Manzoni’s grandfather. In 1764, Cesare Beccaria published “Dei delitti e delle pene”. This essay emphasized the futility of torture and the death penalty.
The Istituto Penale Minorile Beccaria complex comprises five pavilions. These are enclosed by a perimeter wall, covering approximately 5000 square meters. Two symmetrical buildings rise three stories high. The ordinary section is divided into five sections. Each section accommodates 12 to 13 youths. They are distributed in cells housing one to four occupants. Some youths in advanced treatment reside in a separate section. The visiting room is on the ground floor. The infirmary, consisting of a couple of medical offices and three internal cells, is on the first floor.
The recent reopening of the former female ward increased capacity. This makes Istituto Penale Minorile Beccaria the most populous juvenile penitentiary in Italy. The ward had been under renovation for 16 years.
The outdoor space is used year-round. It’s called the “green area”. It adjoins the detention sections and is surrounded by high walls. Behind the building near the perimeter walls, there’s a rugby field. There is also an outdoor swimming pool, used only for special events like sports competitions.
Every six months, two residents of Istituto Penale Minorile Beccaria learn baking skills. They are guided by an experienced baker and a trainer. They prepare bread, focaccia, panettone, Easter cakes, and cookies. These products are then sold as part of the “Buoni dentro” project.
Over the years, Istituto Penale Minorile Beccaria has housed individuals who later gained notoriety. These include Renato Vallanzasca, Saverio Morabito and Erika De Nardo. More recently, rappers Ghali, Baby Gang, and Simba La Rue were residents. The latter two even dedicated a song to it in 2024 called “Beccaria San Vittore”.
The story of Istituto Penale Minorile Beccaria is complex. It involves not just confinement, but also opportunities for growth, change and new beginnings.