In the present it is Piazza Missori, in the distant past it was called Piazza San Giovanni in Conca from the name of the church that was its crowning glory, chosen by Bernabò Visconti as his private chapel, which in the apse was to house his equestrian sepulchral monument and the sarcophagus of his consort Regina della Scala for three centuries.
Not far from the church is the famous Cà di Can, home of the fierce mastiffs of the Lord of Milan, inseparable during wild boar hunts. Some of these dogs were forcibly entrusted to Milanese who had to provide for them; very severe punishments, jail, corporal punishment or worse, if upon inspection the tyrant’s beloved dogs showed malnutrition or signs of mistreatment.
Cruel, capable of terrible nefariousness and at the same time an extraordinary political strategist, Bernabò.
He made his sons and daughters the pieces of a chessboard of matrimonial alliances; among the varied nuptials were those of his niece Violante, daughter of his late brother Galeazzo, who went to marry his son Ludovico, while Violante’s other nephew Gian Galeazzo, brother of Violante, was united in marriage with his daughter Caterina.
It would be Gian Galeazzo himself who would put an end to his uncle-in-law’s life.
He ordered his armed men under the command of Jacopo dal Verme outside the Pusterla di Sant’Ambrogio to attack him, had him locked up in the dungeons of the Castle of Trezzo d’Adda where he was finally killed by poisoning.
If you want to learn more about the Visconti and Sforza families and all the events, deceptions and poisonings that took place between the very members of these families, don’t miss our Virtual Encounter“Relatives and…snakes: a close encounter with the Visconti and Sforza families,” featuring professional actors from the Ditta Gioco Fiaba company. Click here to see the schedule and sign up!
Learn more about the writer Giovanna Ferrante.
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