San Bernardino alle Ossa, Milan

Next stop was a visit to the San Bernardino alle Ossa, a church best known for its ossuary, a small side chapel decorated with numerous human skulls and bones.

In 1210, when an adjacent cemetery ran out of space, a room was built to hold the bones. A church was attached in 1269, renovated in 1679, and rebuilt after it was destroyed by a fire in 1712. While the interior of the church is quite simple with the lovely coloured travertine floor being the most eye-catching feature.

The main attraction which does sound quite gruesome is the ossuary filled with and decorated with human skulls and bones. Death is treated quite differently over here and we do find it quite fascinating, with many finding our fascination odd.

The origins of San Bernardino alle Ossa can be traced back to a time long before the ossuary was built. The area itself has been significant for religious activity since the 4th century A.D. and at that time, a cemetery and a small Christian church dedicated to Santo Stefano were established in this part of the city. By the early medieval period, a hospital was built adjacent to this cemetery and with the growing population and the proximity of the hospital meant that the cemetery quickly filled with the remains of the dead. Hence a more permanent solution to house the bones was built, resulting in the ossuary as it stands today.

The beautiful ceiling fresco is quite a contrast to the darkness of the skulls and bones that adorn the walls but there is a real sense of awe in the chapel. A very interesting place to visit.Read more