The Mausoleum Tomb of Luciano Manara

Luciano Manara's words, "We must die to earnestly conclude 1848. To make our example effective, we must die," were written in a letter to his friend Fanny just a few days before his death. He foresaw a destiny he had chosen in the name of a nation that had not yet become a reality. Luciano Manara, remembered as one of the most courageous men of the Italian Risorgimento, died defending the Roman Republic. He was born in Milan and his body returned to his homeland long after that fateful day of June 30, 1849, when he was fatally wounded on the Gianicolo. His funeral was held with a solemn procession in Rome, and his remains were originally interred alongside those of Enrico Dandolo and Emilio Morosini in Vezia, Switzerland, in the private chapel of the Morosini family. However, his parents repeatedly requested permission from the Austrian government to transfer his remains to Lombardy, in Barzanò. It was only after the unification of Italy that, in 1864, a mausoleum tomb was erected, where his remains have rested since 1867.

The place where the sepulchral chapel was built was part of the property acquired by the Manara family in 1833. At that time, it overlooked a large park that also included a small lake. Its origins are much older and tied to the history of the town: in 1577, during the spread of the plague, a chapel dedicated to San Sebastiano was built at this very location, where the tomb now stands. Today, the landscape has changed significantly, especially after the opening of the provincial road in 1930, with its route passing near the tomb, following the path of the tramway that connected Oggiono and Monza from the late 19th century until 1917. However, the solemn atmosphere surrounding the chapel and the hill it is situated on, along with the magnificent mountain views on the horizon, still create a captivating ambiance. The small square-shaped building is designed in a Neo-Romanesque style, featuring hanging arches, single light windows framed by alternating grey and white stone arches, oculi, and an entrance portal that opens onto a staircase flanked by majestic cypress trees. Inside, the funerary monument houses the marble bust of Luciano Manara, surmounted by a sculpted figure of a weeping woman, possibly symbolising the personification of the homeland. Ten other plaques are placed along the sides, commemorating various family members.