Ossario di Solferino
A solemn ossuary in northern Italy, preserving the bones of thousands who perished in the bloody 1859 Battle of Solferino.
Located in the town of Solferino, in the province of Mantua, Lombardy, the Ossario di Solferino is a poignant monument to the fallen soldiers of the Battle of Solferino, fought on June 24, 1859, during the Second Italian War of Independence. The ossuary is housed within the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli, the oldest church in Solferino, which was converted into an ossuary in 1870.
Inside, the ossuary contains the remains of approximately 1,413 skulls and the bones of around 7,000 soldiers from the Austrian and Franco-Sardinian armies. The skulls are meticulously arranged along the walls of the apse, while other bones are stored in the crypt.
The facade of the ossuary is adorned with two mosaics depicting Saint Peter and the Risen Christ, and is topped by a statue of the Madonna.
Adjacent to the ossuary, a bronze bust of Napoleon III and a monument commemorating General Charles Auger, who died from wounds sustained in the battle, pay tribute to the fallen.
The ossuary serves as a stark reminder of the horrors of war and the shared humanity of those who perished, regardless of their allegiance.
Location: Located in Solferino, Lombardy, Italy.
Address: Via Ossario, 46040 Solferino MN, Italy
Category: ossuary, cemetery, war memorial, historical site
Tags: Ossario di Solferino, Solferino, Battle of Solferino, ossuary, war memorial, Second Italian War of Independence
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Homepage: solferinoesanmartino.it
Map: Open in Google Maps
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