Sacred bones / The macabre beauty of San Bernardino alle Ossa

Embedded skull and bones details, Ossuary Chapel, Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa, Milan, Italy

Sacred bones: the macabre beauty of San Bernardino alle Ossa

Milan’s haunting chapel of bones and the deep reflection on mortality

13 MARCH 2025, 

IDIL BURKUTOGLU

Nestled in the heart of Milan, Italy, the Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa is a striking testament to both the macabre and artistic ingenuity. The origins of both the ossuary and the Church of St. Bernardino date back to the 13th century. In 1145, a hospital was built near the basilica of St. Stefano at what is now Via Brolo. A cemetery was created in front of the basilica to bury those who died in the hospital, but after a few years, the available space became insufficient. 

 

Spazio HASITA gallery, incubator, nest in Milano dedicated to art, design, innovation, ideas, Milan, Italy, photo by İdil Burkutoğlu

A conversation with Haluk Terzioğlu

Exploring the fusion of tradition and innovation in Milan's cultural landscape and beyond

13 OCTOBER 2024, 

IDIL BURKUTOGLU

I had the opportunity to meet with Haluk Terzioğlu, one of the founders of Spazio Hasita alongside Simone Innocenti, which is situated in Milan's NOLO district. The gallery, which combines modernism and tradition, is an example of the city's cultural development, which has been established since June 2023. Since then, Spazio Hasita has hosted artists such as Chiara Colombo, Sefa Çatuk, Francesco Damiani, Angelo Marcuccio, Alan Maglio, and Alessandro Pongan. Set in a meticulously renovated location, its direction mixes contemporary innovative thinking with Milan's artistic, creative, industrial, and cultural legacy. After discussing his unique approach to gallery administration and vision, Haluk Terzioğlu was open to sharing his story and what lies ahead for Spazio Hasita.

The monumental cemetery of Milan / A graveyard museum

The Monumental Cemetery of Milan, situated in the Garibaldi district of Italy, is a renowned cultural heritage site in Europe

The monumental cemetery of Milan: a graveyard museum

An open-air museum standing in between life and death, art and architecture

13 SEPTEMBER 2024, 

IDIL BURKUTOGLU

The Monumental Cemetery of Milan (Cimitero Monumentale di Milano), located in the Garibaldi district of Milan, Italy, is one of the most important cultural heritage sites in Europe. Filled with rich architectural monuments and sculptures, the cemetery is the resting and remembering place of many famous people in Italian history, such as; Bruno Munari, Salvatore Quasimodo, Alessandro Manzoni, Carlo Cattaneo, Luca Beltrami, etc. The cemetery was designed by Carlo Maciachini (1818–1899), who won the design competition held by the municipality of Milan in 1863. Even though it was not completed until 1887, the burials began in 1866, and the cemetery continued extending to 250,000 m2.