Cemetery of the month: Cimitero monumentale di Milano

One of the world’s most impressive cemeteries can be found in Milan. Designed by architect Carlo Maciachini, it has been open to the public since 1867.

It features an extraordinary collection of sculptures, grand tombs, and smaller works that form an important part of the city’s cultural heritage. Around 220,000 funerals have taken place here. The grounds cover 245,000 m², including 20,000 m² of green space. The cemetery also has sections for people of non-Catholic faiths.

A Temple for the Greats

Famedio is essentially the “hall of fame” of Milan’s Monumental Cemetery — its name comes from the Italian Tempio della Fama, meaning “Temple of Fame”.

It stands at the centre of the cemetery’s main façade. Architect Carlo Maciachini originally designed it as a Catholic chapel, but in 1869–1870 it was transformed into a place for burying and commemorating notable Milanese citizens and figures connected with the city. The city describes it as a kind of Milanese Pantheon.

The criteria for inclusion in the Famedio date back to regulations established in 1884. They recognise three groups of citizens considered worthy of entering history: the “famous,” for literary, artistic, or scientific achievements, or exceptional deeds; the “deserving,” for bringing benefit and honour to the city; and those “important in the history of the nation,” for contributing to its development.

Only the remains of eight people are actually kept inside the Famedio. Most of those commemorated on its memorial plaques are buried elsewhere in the Monumental Cemetery, including conductor Arturo Toscanini. It also honours prominent Italians whose remains lie elsewhere, such as Giuseppe Verdi, buried in the crypt of Milan’s Casa di Riposo per Musicisti — the musicians’ home he founded — and Giuseppe Mazzini, buried in Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa.

Campari family tomb

More Than Famous Names

While the Famedio is fascinating for culture lovers, the cemetery’s most striking sights are often the individual graves and tombs discovered along the way.

One impossible-to-miss landmark is the Campari family tomb, linked to the iconic aperitif brand of the same name. It features a monumental, larger-than-life bronze sculpture of The Last Supper, created by sculptor Giannino Castiglioni in 1935.

Řada děl využívá i moderní prvky, pracuje se sklem a kovem a odkazuje i na průmyslové dědictví, jako tento hrob rodiny Ferranti s ozubeným kolem.

Many of the tombs rise to striking heights — a common sight in Italy, but something rarely seen in many other countries. You’ll also discover ambitious monuments conceived as works of art, unlike anything you might normally expect to find in a cemetery.

You can also join a guided tour, but there is something especially lovely about arriving with no plan and simply being surprised by the cemetery’s often bold artistic creations.

Around the perimeter of the cemetery, you’ll find galleries, often with intricate architectural details.

Getting There and When to Visit

The cemetery is easy to reach from Milan Central Station: around 12 minutes by tram or 30 minutes on foot. As it is quite extensive, it’s worth allowing plenty of time for your visit.

It is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm, and closed to the public on Mondays. Admission is free. For more information, visit the cemetery’s multilingual website.

Cimitero Monumentale

Municipio 8
Piazzale Cimitero Monumentale,Milano

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