Category: Sights

San Bernardino alle Ossa sits quietly behind the Duomo area of Milano, yet its story reaches back to the twelfth century, when a cemetery linked to a nearby hospital began to run out of space and a separate chamber for exhumed bones was created in 1210. A small church was added beside this charnel house in the thirteenth century, then rebuilt and enlarged over the following centuries, especially after a devastating fire in 1712 led to an eighteenth‑century reconstruction with the Baroque façade seen today. From the outside it can seem like just another historic church in central Milano, but stepping inside reveals how closely the whole complex is tied to the themes of death, charity and the city’s medieval hospital culture.

The Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio is one of Milano’s most distinguished landmarks, with roots reaching back to the earliest centuries of Christianity. Built originally in the late fourth century, it stands on a site that was then far beyond the Roman walls, chosen by its namesake, Bishop Ambrose, one of Milano’s most influential figures. Over the centuries, the church has been rebuilt and restored, particularly in the Romanesque period of the 11th and 12th centuries, which gave it the distinctive appearance we see today. Despite renovations after wartime damage, the basilica has preserved its solemn, ancient character, serving as a powerful reminder of Milano’s early Christian heritage.

The Castello Sforzesco stands as one of Milano’s most recognisable landmarks, a formidable red-brick fortress that has witnessed the city’s shifting fortunes over several centuries. Originally built in the 14th century by the Visconti family, it served as both a defensive stronghold and a symbol of dynastic power. When the Sforza family rose to prominence in the 15th century, Francesco Sforza ordered extensive reconstruction of the castle, transforming it from a military fort into a grand ducal residence. Through the Renaissance, it became not only a centre of governance but also a refined courtly residence that reflected Milano’s growing cultural prestige.

Parco Sempione is the green heart of central Milano, unfolding immediately behind the massive walls of Castello Sforzesco and stretching out towards the Arco della Pace. It feels like a deliberate counterpoint to the city’s dense traffic and fashion-conscious streets, offering long perspectives of lawn, water and monumental stone framed by mature trees.

The Cimitero Monumentale in Milano is far more than a burial ground; it is a vast open-air museum reflecting the city’s changing artistic and social character since the nineteenth century. Opened in 1866, it was created to unify Milano’s smaller cemeteries into one grand site worthy of a modern, industrialising metropolis. The architect Carlo Maciachini designed it in an eclectic style blending Byzantine, Gothic and Romanesque elements, resulting in a structure that feels both solemn and theatrical. The grand entrance, the Famedio – initially intended as a pantheon for Milano’s most illustrious figures – sets the tone with its striking marble façade and towering spire.

The Arco della Pace in Milano is a grand neoclassical monument, originally conceived during Napoleon’s era as a symbol of victory. Construction began in 1807 under architect Luigi Cagnola to commemorate French triumphs, such as the Battle of Jena, but halted with Napoleon’s fall in 1814. Resumed under Austrian rule in 1826, it was rededicated to peace following the Congress of Vienna in 1815 and completed in 1837, marking Milano’s layered history of conquest and reconciliation.