I know that cemeteries are not for everyone and, in fact, it can creep some out to the point where they believe their own lives are in peril if they should go to one but I find them beautiful and touching. In Europe they are filled with amazing works of memorial art and we were very happy that Go Ahead Tours had include a tour of this one in Milan. (Don't forget to click on the smaller photos to see the larger versions!)
The outside of the chapel is beautiful. I really wish we would have had more time while we were there so I could have toured inside and enjoyed the hallways of the actual building but we only had about an hour there and I didn't want to waste any time that could be spent admiring the artwork in the actual cemetery. Something to return for on our next visit to Milan!
Angels and religious figures are prominent of course but I loved the drama of this particular piece. With sweeping garments and huge wings caressing the monument it makes a dramatic presentation but it's the angels faces that are so touching to me.
Cherubs are all over Europe and we began to refer to them as our "fat babies" and simply adore them. This is on the edge of that same Angel monument.
This is the left hand side of a three part memorial. You can feel the emotion all the way down to her hand draped despondently in her lap. Any of the three pieces would have been incredible enough but when placed together they are heartrendingly touching.
The center piece stands pensively over the two reliefs of "Mama and Papa" and is draped in marble gauze garments. Beautiful.
Heartbreaking. What I truly loved about these pieces is that these are not idealized versions of the female body. These are realistic versions with folds and rolls and all the normal, natural female imperfections. It made me love this piece over all of the others we saw there.
This is the entire piece with all three statues. The heartbreak is evident, the love for this set of parents clearly represented in the marble grief. Just beautiful.
One of the heralded sights here at this cemetery is the Last Supper which is the Campari Family tomb. Many in our group spent a long time admiring this one and taking in the fine details.
The iron work represented is as amazing as the marble work. Delicate and detailed it was also powerful in emotion.
Arturo Toscanini, the conductor and cellist, is buried there in this very Egyptian styled tomb.
But the styles of art represented were varied and amazing to admire. This cemetery was designed in 1818 and opened in 1866 so there are all different types of art styles to discover there.
All different mediums are used here too. From iron to bronze to marble these pieces would have been prizes for any art museum in the world.
There were plenty of heartbreaking mother and child memorials. Many were like this one where the mother and child passed at the same time and were buried together.
There were also a lot of religious Madonna and Child statues and memorials throughout the section of the park we were able to tour.
Some of the artwork was tucked into a larger piece such as this tomb with several statues found at all angles of the building.
And there were times we would come to a cross roads of sorts where you could see several different styles of artwork all at the same time. It would just take our breath away.
The park is massive. If you have time to devote a few hours to explore it then I highly recommend it. We were able to see only about a quarter of it in the hour we were there and we didn't even go into the chapel buildings! I would love to see more of this place and take in more of the artwork.
As we left I noticed the inner hallway of the building. It left me wanting more, as do all wonderful sights along our journey. Just one more reason to return to Milan.
But from here we were off to see the Castle! Next week I'll take you there in photos and I hope you can come back to join me.
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