The Monumental Cemetery in Milan

The Monumental Cemetery of Milan (1866) is a real open-air museum for the high artistic value of sculptures, tombs, funeral shrines and other works present in it, among the most artistically and historically important in Italy. Symbol of Milan and Italian artistic eclecticism in general.

A place of absolute peace, in which you can be enriched with stories of others, more or less famous. Its total area is 250 thousand square meters. In 1866 opened the doors to what quickly became an elite burial place.

Given the splendor of the place, the burial inside was guaranteed to the so-called celebrities. The charm is due to the original idea of Carlo Maciachini, who designed this structure as a place of walking, going in part to limit the funeral area.

Maciachini was freely inspired by the fashions of the time. Inside it is in fact possible to admire Gothic forms, then passing through several other styles: Romanesque Lombard and Pisan.

The cemetery is divided into three areas: central, dedicated to the deceased Catholics, left, dedicated to non-Catholics, right, dedicated to the Israelites.

Once past the entrance there is the temple of fame, Famedio, located at the main entrance of the cemetery.

Not only an illustrious artistic element but also a burial place. Inside there are in fact some illustrious Milanese characters.

It was transformed into the Pantheon only in 1870, giving hospitality to the excellent deceased, whether they were born in Milan or adopted.

The commission, which still decides the deserving, operates in this regard since 1884, dividing the deceased into three categories: distinguished, well-deserving and distinguished in the history of the homeland.

In the upper part you can see excellent citizens, lived between the fourth century and the middle of the eighteenth century.

Among these it is impossible not to mention names such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Sant’Ambrogio, Francesco Sforza, Lodovico il Moro, San Carlo Borromeo and Sant’Agostino.

In the lower part instead lived characters from 1750 to 1850. Continuing to descend you pass to the period from 1850 to the present day.

The names concern the fields of culture, science, politics and economy: Eugenio Montale, Luchino Visconti, Enzo Biagi, Dino Buzzati, Giorgio De Chirico, to name a few.

The central space, however, is dedicated to the most illustrious deceased: Alessandro Manzoni.

Below there is a crypt enriched with other famous remains, dating back to a more recent era: Giorgio Gaber, Giuseppe Meazza, Alda Merini, to name a few.

A place of pure silence, which in fact catapults the visitor into the atmosphere of the most classic cemeteries.

One is in the presence of those who made history in their own field and it is impossible to hold the emotion.

Beyond the Famedio, you have access to the real cemetery, filled with chapels enriched with real works of art, burial monuments of well-known families of the great Milanese industrial bourgeoisie, including that of the Falck family, that of the family of Ferdinando Bocconi – founder of the university dedicated to his eldest son lost in 1896 in the Battle of Adua, and owner of the department stores of the same name then became the Rinascente, founded by Senator Borletti, in turn owner of a majestic newsstand -, those of the families Campari, Bracco – pharmaceutical manufacturers -, Brambilla – founders of the chemical and cotton-making industries of the same name -, and that of the family of Giovanni Treccani, industrialist and founder of the encyclopedia Treccani.

In many cases it is possible to appreciate realizations signed by Fontana, Pomodoro, Castiglioni and beyond. It is almost impossible not to have never heard of the Campari family, especially living in Milan.

In the cemetery you can visit their shrine, built in 1935. The sculptor Giannino Castiglioni was entrusted with the creation of a personalized version of the Last Supper, entirely in bronze.

In this work the figures are larger than a common human figure.

In terms of proportions, the cup placed in the center of the table is also larger.

This indicates the family business. It is no coincidence that over time the Milanese have begun to refer to this work as “the last apertivo”.

The Monumental Cemetery of Milan is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday.

The entrance time, totally free, goes from 8.00 to 18.00. The Milan metro allows easy access to the place. Just get off at the “Monumentale” stop on the M5 Lilla line.

Once you enter, you can contact the Info Point, which offers free maps of the cemetery to all visitors.

On it are marked the most famous tombs, so as to facilitate the visit, avoiding wandering for hours, given the vastness of the place. You can visit the cemetery for free or take part in a in a guided group tour. In the second case you will stay inside for at least 1 hour, receiving details on the crucial elements.