Though the Piazza Cinque Giornate commemorates an episode that is central to the hearts of many Milanese, it importance isn’t often understood by visitors. The monument celebrates those who died in street fighting in March 1848 when, buoyed by a wave of rebellion across Europe, the Milanese pushed Austrian forces out of the city. Though the Austrian garrison was well-armed, the insurrection harnessed the power of the whole city, including priests and children. The Austrian Marshal Radetzky retreated when his troops lost control of the spot on which the monument now stands. Come to appreciate the artistry of the sculpting and the popular enthusiasm that led to its creation.
Admire the monument at first from a distance, the bronze obelisk jutting out proudly into the sky. Notice how the four women which sit at its base are full of energy, their emotions clear in the statuary designed by Giuseppe Grandi and inaugurated after his death in 1895. Spot the lion, the symbol of Milan, at the base, and the Austrian eagle that was defeated during the revolt, which was one of the most important episodes of the Risorgimento (Resurgence).
Get closer and read the names of those who died in the fighting, recorded on the bronze of the obelisk. The ossuary that sits underneath contains their remains. Until the creation of the monument it had sat in the nearby Chiesa Beata Vergine Annunciata.
The Piazza Cinque Giornate is on the eastern edge of central Milan, in the Guastalla neighborhood. Several tram stops in the vicinity make it easy to access from almost anywhere in the city. Travel by tram from Milano Centrale in about 25 minutes or drive there in 15 minutes. The Duomo is a 20-minute walk or 15-minute tram ride away. There is limited metered parking available in the area. Traffic can be busy here, so be careful when visiting the monument.
