Ossuary in the church of San Bernardino alle Ossa in Milan

The Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa is a church in Milan, known mainly for its chapel with an ossuary that makes it one of a kind. This church is distinguished by its unusual and macabre setting, which attracts the attention of visitors and scholars from all over the world.

History and origins of the church of San Bernardino alle Ossa

The origins of the Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa in Milan go back to the 12th century. It’s a period of intense development and transformation of the city. It was during this period that the nearby San Barnaba Hospital in Brolo was founded. It was a leper hospital with a cemetery for the burial of deceased patients.

As the years passed, the cemetery quickly filled up due to the large number of deaths, and in 1210 it became necessary to find a solution to the problem of insufficient space for new burials. This led to the creation of the ossuary, a kind of depository for bones, which was used to free up space in the cemetery so that the dead could continue to be buried.

In 1269, the church of San Bernardino alle Ossa, named after the nearby ossuary, was built next to the ossuary. The original church was later renovated in 1679, and after being destroyed by fire in 1712, it was replaced by a new, larger building designed by architect Carlo Giuseppe Merlo. This new church, connected to the previous one by an ambulatory, was dedicated to St. Bernardino of Siena, and its facade was completed in 1776.

Ossuary

The Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa is best known for its ossuary chapel, a unique room decorated with skulls and bones of the dead. This macabre setting was created in the 17th century when, after the bell tower of the nearby Basilica of Santo Stefano collapsed, the ossuary had to be rebuilt and it was decided to use the bones to create decorative compositions on the walls.

Church reconstruction

The current structure of the church dates back to 1750, when it was rebuilt in the Baroque style after the bell tower collapsed in 1642, causing severe damage to both the ossuary and the church itself.

The interior of the church is a veritable treasure trove of art, adorned with works from the 16th to 18th centuries, testifying to the artistic and cultural diversity of the temple.

Artworks inside the church of San Bernardino alle Ossa

Inside the Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa in Milan, in addition to the famous ossuary chapel, one can admire several works of art that artistically enrich this unique place. Among these works stand out:

• Fresco “Triumph of Souls in the Angelic Procession” by Sebastiano Ricci: painted in 1695, the fresco adorns the vault of the ossuary chapel and presents a procession of angels leading souls to paradise. It is the only colorful accent inside the chapel, depicting an allegorical vision of the salvation of souls.
• Worshipping the four patron saints: the spandrels of the ossuary’s vault depict the Virgin Mary, St. Ambrose, St. Sebastian, and St. Bernardine of Siena, which give the chapel a holy and protective feel.
• A 16th-century painting of a saint depicting St. Lucius: This work of art is located inside the church and is a testimony to the church’s historical connection with the brotherhood of cheese makers, whose patron saint is Saint Lucius. The presence of this painting underscores the social and religious importance of the church over the centuries.
• Diorama of the altar of the ossuary chapel: topped by a depiction of a pieta, known as Nostra Señora Dolorosa de Soledad (Our Lady of Sorrows), wearing a white apron covered by a black mantle embroidered with gold. This work, in an unmistakably Spanish style, dates from the mid-17th century and was executed by Gerolamo Cattaneo during the Spanish rule in Milan. >

Interesting facts and legends

One of the interesting facts about the church of San Bernardino alle Ossa is the presence of the tomb of some of Christopher Columbus’ descendants. Moreover, the ossuary chapel inspired John V, King of Portugal, to build a replica in Evora, near Lisbon, known as Capela dos Ossos. According to local legend, on November 2, the Day of the Dead, a little girl buried in the ossuary would come back to life, starting a macabre dance with other skeletons.

Accessibility and opening hours of San Bernardino alle Ossa church

Location

The Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa is located in Piazza Santo Stefano, near the Piazza Duomo

Admission

Free

Church opening hours

• Monday through Friday: 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: 7:30 a.m. to noon.

However, it is always advisable to check the opening hours by contacting the facility directly or consulting up-to-date sources, as changes may occur.