The Monumento ai Caduti di Porta Romana is a commemorative sculpture located in the Porta Romana district of Milan, positioned at the intersection of via Tiraboschi and via Ludovico Muratori. Created by Enrico Saroldi, the monument was inaugurated on 24 June 1923 to commemorate victims of Milan’s first aerial bombardment, which occurred on 14 February 1916 when Austrian aircraft dropped bombs on the Porta Romana and Porta Vittoria districts.
The sculpture depicts three figures: a Roman soldier and a Lombard knight, representing historical defenders against Germanic invaders, supporting a wounded civilian casualty of the bombardment. The attack shocked Milan’s population, as the First World War had until then seemed distant from the city and aerial bombardment of civilians was unprecedented in their experience. The monument’s base bears plaques inscribed with the names of those killed in the 14 February 1916 raid and the 573 residents of the Porta Romana district who died in the war.
About the Work
Enrico Saroldi was an Italian sculptor active in the early twentieth century, contributing to Milan’s memorial and civic art during the interwar period.
Details
- Creator: Enrico Saroldi
- Inaugurated: 24 June 1923
- Location: Porta Romana, Milan, at the intersection of via Tiraboschi and via Ludovico Muratori
- Commemorates: Victims of the 14 February 1916 bombardment and 573 war dead from the Porta Romana district
Frequently asked questions
When was the monument inaugurated and why?
The monument was inaugurated on 24 June 1923 to commemorate the victims of Milan’s first aerial bombardment, which took place on 14 February 1916 when Austrian aircraft attacked the Porta Romana and Porta Vittoria districts during the First World War.
What do the sculptural figures represent?
The monument depicts a Roman soldier and a Lombard knight supporting a wounded civilian casualty. These historical figures symbolize past defenders against Germanic invaders, connected thematically to the contemporary victims of the bombardment.
What names are recorded on the monument?
The base of the monument bears plaques with the names of those killed in the 14 February 1916 air raid and the 573 residents of the Porta Romana district who fell in the First World War.
