A tranquil little Lombard piazza. That’s what architect Aldo Rossi envisioned for Sandro Pertini Square. He wanted a place for people to meet. A place to share a panino or take a group photo. Sandro Pertini Square isn’t just a square. It’s a monument. A tribute to the seventh President of the Italian Republic Sandro Pertini himself.
The square sits at the end of a pedestrian zone on Via Croce Rossa. It’s where Via Monte Napoleone and Via Alessandro Manzoni meet. The centerpiece is a monumental fountain. A cube eight meters on each side. This cube is the heart of Sandro Pertini Square. It’s built of Candoglia marble. The same marble used in the Duomo. Each block is meticulously measured 50x25x25 centimeters. A triangular opening on one side lets water flow into a basin below. Other elements are made of copper alloy.
Rossi’s design isn’t arbitrary. It echoes his earlier unrealized monument designs. The monument to the Resistance in Cuneo for example. Or the monument to the Partisans in Segrate. He used simple shapes. A strong language of forms that repeat throughout his work. The cube in Sandro Pertini Square is open to the city. Unlike his earlier closed designs. It invites interaction.
The Milanese Underground gifted the monument to the city when they inaugurated line 3. Since then Sandro Pertini Square has sparked debate. Some have even called for its removal. Others defend it passionately. In 2012 the city undertook a restoration. They repaired the fountain. They cleaned and protected the marble. The controversy highlights how even in quiet Lombard piazzas strong opinions clash.
Today Sandro Pertini Square is more than a point of contention. It’s a place of quiet contemplation. You can sit on the steps. Read a book. Enjoy the simple beauty of the design. The cube’s cool marble. The subtle play of light and shadow. You might even post a picture online. Sharing its serene presence with the world. Sandro Pertini Square. A true Milanese gem. A testament to Rossi’s vision. A quiet tribute to a great leader.