: William Facchinetti Kerdudo
: Milan mysteries and unusual itineraries between reality and legend
: Polaris
: 9788860591593
: 1
: CHF 6.20
:
: Europa
: English
: 231
: Wasserzeichen
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
Universally recognised as an industrious city, an important centre of finance and fashion, Milan has some aspects not very known, but equally fascinating. Within the texture of the fabric of the city and the folds of the frenetic streets, the churches and the ancient palaces tell about a millenary story. A story that began with thick woods where there were Celtic villages and then became mighty Roman structures and later on gorgeous Renaissance villas. And there are voices that tell of saints, of famous people, but also of murderers, legends and ghosts. A trip to discover the disappeared Navigli (waterways), the secrets that conceal themselves in famous places as the Duomo (Cathedral) and the Castello Sforzesco (Castle), the squares where the witches were burnt, the symbols left by Templars and Freemasons. A guide that will accompany the tourists and discerning readers to discover a city rich in history, architecture and curiosities.

A journey into history

When people talks about Milan, they think at once of people walking always in a hurry and very busy. For many of them Milan means Stock Exchange and Fashion. Milan is also “da bere” (to be enjoyed) with all its ‘happy hours’ premises situated in the naviglio area and its ‘night life’ in Corso Como.

Milan is living the present time with restrain because tends always towards the future. It seems difficult to turn the head backwards and to think of the past, but hidden by modern buildings, the town offers evidence of its ancient history.

In this chapter, by means of an archaeological itinerary, I will bring you to discover a town that many people do not even know it exists, but that it’s worth to be seen.

>>> Google map ...Milan 1

Roman amphitheatre and Antiquarium

Imagine that we get into a ‘Time Machine’. After a jump back of almost twenty centuries, we will find ourselves in ‘Mediolanum’, the ancient Milan, a rather different and splendid town of the Roman Empire with its Imperial Palaces, a Forum, some Thermal Baths, an Amphitheatre and all of them surrounded by impressive town-walls.

That was a period in which thousands of town people and inhabitants of the neighbouring provinces gathered together to assist to the fights between gladiators and wild beasts. The size of the Amphitheatre of Mediolanum (third in dimension after the Coliseum of Rome and the Amphitheatre of Capua) was 155 meters long and 128 meters large. The internal arena (75 x 41 meters) was a little smaller than the actual and modern sports ground of San Siro Stadium (105 x 68 meters).

Coming back to the present time: what happened to the ancient Amphitheatre? Where was it situated? Unfortunately it has disappeared hundreds of years ago. Recently, thanks to the Department of Cultural Heritage, some of its foundations have been fortunately discovered. On the same place where it existed in the past (an area between Via De Amicis, Via Arena and ‘conca del Naviglio’), now there is an archaeological site (11.500 square meters). The Amphitheatre (dating between the Second and Third Cent. A.D.), after a period of great splendour, was destroyed in 539 A.D. during the uprising of Mediolanum’s people against the Goths (some texts report that its demolition happened in a previous time during Alarico’s siege in 402 A.D. or during the invasion from Attila in 452 A.D.).

At that time, it was custom use to build Amphitheatres outside the town-walls. The reason for it was to facilitate the flow of spectators, but at the same time, being not protected, it could result as a dangerous place to stay in. But on the other hand it could have been used as a refuge or an outpost by enemies in case of invasions.

From the Fifth century, the Coliseum ofMediolanum has had a period of de