The Cimitero Monumentale is a huge cemetery in Milan. The often impressive tombs host the mortal remains of several famous people. The highlight is a church-like building called Famedio where the writer Alessandro Manzoni is buried.
Cimitero Monumentale Milan
Useful information
The address of the Cimitero Monumentale is Piazzale Cimitero Monumentale – 20154 Milan (tel. +39 0288465600). Streetcar: 2, 4, 12, 14, 33. Bus: 37. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 08.00 to 18.00. Entrance: Free.
History and description
The Monumental Cemetery was designed in a Gothic style by architect Carlo Maciachini. It was built between 1865 and 1866.
The Cimitero Monumentale of Milan has a surface area of 250 thousand square meters. It is divided into three sections: Catholics are buried in the central section, Jews are on the right sideand the left side houses the tombs of other non-Catholics.
Along the avenues that traverse the cemetery, signs have been erected indicating where the most noteworthy tombs are located.
In 1970 the cemetery was expanded on the Via Farini side.
The entire cemetery is full of interesting sculptures, but the highlights are listed below.
What to see
The Famedio is located at the top of a monumental staircase. One of the people buried here is the Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni, whose magnificent I Promessi Sposi (“The Engaged”) is one of the best novels ever written in Italian. His tomb was consecrated in 1883. The bronze statue on the facade was created by Ludovico Pogliaghi and depicts “Glory”, while the lunettes and mosaics symbolize history, light and celebrity. Other famous characters buried in the Famedio include the Nobel Prize winner Salvatore Quasimodo, the philosopher Carlo Cattaneo and the painter Francesco Hayez. Incidentally, the word famedio is a neologism created by combining the words fama (“fame”) and tempio (“temple”).
De tombe van de familie Campari is versierd met een meer dan levensgrote bronzen “Laatste Avondmaaltijd”. Het kunstwerk is in 1935 door Giannino Castiglioni gemaakt.
The tomb of Arturo Toscanini was made by Leonardo Bistolfi and is dedicated to the orchestra leader’s son who died young, with the front of the monument depicting the boat that brought his remains from New York back to Italy.
The Cremati Temple was built in 1876 in the Greek style, but is not in use anymore. The designer was Clericetti.