Porta Volta in Milano in Città Metropolitana di Milano, Lombardy, Italy — Southern and Western Europe (Mediterranean)

Cimitero Monumentale / Monumental Cemetery

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 17, 2023

1. Cimitero Monumentale / Monumental Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Il cimitero viene costruito da Carlo Maciachini tra il 1863 e il 1866 per unire il culto dei defunti con le esigenze celebrative dell'Italia post-unitaria. Caratterizzato da fasce in pietra e marmi bicromi, è un'originale testimonianza di architettura eclettica in cui i modelli stilistici del romanico pisano e quelli del gotico lombardo si fondono in una composizione omogenea. L'impianto generale è costituito da un recinto con due gallerie laterali esterne che si uniscono al centro nel monumentale corpo d'ingresso, il Famedio o pantheon cittadino. All'interno di questo spazio a croce greca sono presenti sepolcri, statue e lapidi dei milanesi illustri, mentre sotto la cupola ottagonale è posto il monumento sepolcrale di Alessandro Manzoni. Lungo il percorso principale che attraversa il cimitero si trovano l'Ossario e il Tempio Crematorio. Tombe, edicole funerarie e sculture costituiscono uno straordinario repertorio di storia artistica dal tardo Ottocento alla contemporaneità.

The creation of Milan's monumental cemetery, built by Carlo Maciachini between 1863 and 1866, testifies

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to the new, more celebrative approach to funeral proceedings in post-unification Italy. With its characteristic bands of two- tone marble, it is a fascinating example of eclectic architecture in which aspects of the Pisan Romanesque and Lombard Gothic styles blend into a single, uniform composition. Contained within a boundary wall, it features two side galleries which meet at the central monumental entrance: the Famedio or civic pantheon. This space, whose floor plan is in the shape of a Greek cross, contains tombs, statues and plaques commemorating illustrious Milanese citizens. Alessandro Manzoni's grand sepulchre, for example, is positioned beneath the octagonal dome. Located along the main path through the cemetery are the Ossuary and the Crematorium Temple. All around are tombs, shrines and sculptures that tell an intriguing story of artistic developments in Milan from the late 1800s to the present day.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Cemeteries & Burial Sites. In addition, it is included in the Milan Red-Gray Stelae series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.

Location. 45° 29.1′ N, 9° 10.746′ E. Marker is in Milano, Lombardia (Lombardy), in Città Metropolitana di Milano. It is in Porta Volta. Marker can be reached

Cimitero Monumentale / Monumental Cemetery Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 17, 2023

2. Cimitero Monumentale / Monumental Cemetery Marker - wide view

from Piazzale Cimitero Monumentale. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Piazzale Cimitero Monumentale, Milano, Lombardia 20154, Italy. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ettore Bugatti (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Chionna Umberto (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Fassolo Giovanni (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Quartiere Isola (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Acquario Civico (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); Wolfango Amedeo Mozart (approx. 1.5 kilometers away); San Marco (approx. 1.5 kilometers away); Laghetto di San Marco / Pond of San Marco (approx. 1.5 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milano.

Also see . . .
1. Cimitero Monumentale (Comune di Milano). The cemetery’s homepage. The site is in Italian, but in the upper left of the homepage there is a drop-down language menu, which will translate the site’s pages into the selected language. (Submitted on April 7, 2023.)

2. Cimitero Monumentale di Milano (Wikipedia).

Overview: The Cimitero Monumentale ("Monumental Cemetery") is one of the two largest cemeteries in Milan, Italy, the other one being the Cimitero Maggiore. It is noted for the abundance of artistic tombs and monuments.

Designed by the architect Carlo Maciachini (1818–1899), it was planned to consolidate a number of small cemeteries that used to be scattered around the city into a single
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 17, 2023

3. Cimitero Monumentale / Monumental Cemetery - main building
location.

Officially opened in 1866, it has since then been filled with a wide range of contemporary and classical Italian sculptures as well as Greek temples, elaborate obelisks, and other original works such as a scaled-down version of the Trajan's Column. Many of the tombs belong to noted industrialist dynasties, and were designed by artists such as Adolfo Wildt, Giò Ponti, Arturo Martini, Agenore Fabbri, Lucio Fontana, Medardo Rosso, Giacomo Manzù, Floriano Bodini, and Giò Pomodoro.

(Submitted on April 7, 2023.)

Cimitero Monumentale / Monumental Cemetery - Jewish section image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 17, 2023

4. Cimitero Monumentale / Monumental Cemetery - Jewish section

Cimitero Monumentale / Monumental Cemetery - eastern area image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 17, 2023

5. Cimitero Monumentale / Monumental Cemetery - eastern area

Cimitero Monumentale / Monumental Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 17, 2023

6. Cimitero Monumentale / Monumental Cemetery

Photographed from the steps of the Ossario, looking at the main building.

Cimitero Monumentale - Viale Maggiore coll’ Ossario image. Click for full size.

circa 1905

7. Cimitero Monumentale - Viale Maggiore coll’ Ossario

Photographed from the steps at the rear of the main building, looking towards the Ossario.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 45 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 6, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 6. submitted on April 7, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 7. submitted on April 6, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.