Rotonda della Besana - arcades
The Rotonda of via Besana is situated just south of Porta Vittoria along the former circuit of the Spanish walls and a short distance from the "palazzo di Giustizia"(Law Tribunal) of Milan. The correct name of the elegant 18th century graveyard complex is "complesso di S. Michele ai nuovi Sepolcri" or "Foppone dell'Ospedale".From the outside the "Rotonda" is a circular, arcaded brickwork enclosure. The walls are original natural brick divided into sections by pilasters supporting slightly prominent arches above wide windows. Inside there is a colonnade made up of symmetrical semicircular exedras surrounding a wide expanse of grass in the middle of which stands the now deconsecrated church of San Michele on a Greek-cross plan. The small skulls sculpted on the capitals inside are a reminder of its original function.
The origins of the complex, which is not mentioned under this name in olden times, go back to the time of Spanish domination and more precisely to the end of the 17th century when it was deemed necessary to provide the City with an enclosed burial ground. With this aim in mind the Chapter of the Ca' Granda, l'Ospedale Maggiore di Milano (main hospital of Milan) chose land running along the bushes and streams close to the Spanish walls between Porta Romana and Porta Tosa.
The Church built on a Greek-cross plan with a cupola concealed by an octagonal surround designed by Attilio Arrigoni, engineer of the hospital, was consecrated in 1700.
The burial ground, at once renamed "Foppone" ("grande fossa" or great ditch), was soon revealed to be inadequate, therefore in 1713 the restructuring of the Church and graveyards and the construction of a wide arcade above the burial crypts was entrusted to engineer Carlo Francesco Raffagno. Work was finished in 1732 and the area was utilized until 1782 when the Austrian emperor Giuseppe 11nd forbade burials in the city.
During the French domination the complex was used as a barracks for the cavalry, When the Austrians returned to power the Church was reopened and the faithful could worship there once again. After 1821 the Rotonda was used as a hayloft, military storehouse, depository of goods in quarantine and stables by the Austrian army. In 1858 the Milanese Hospital repossessed the building and immediately converted it into a long-stay hospital and isolation ward for infectious diseases. Later it was turned into a portrait gallery where likenesses of the benefactors of Ca'Granda were displayed and then it even became the hospital laundry.
In 1939 after a period of total neglect the Rotonda was handed over to the "Comune di Milano". The Municipality of Milan decided that the Church should become a permanent centre for cultural displays and the open spaces used as a public park. Between 2001 and 2002 maintenance work was carried out on the deconsecrated church of san Michele. The edifice is now used as a city exhibition space for temporary shows and the "Arianteo" outdoor film projections in the summer.
