There are 121 public statues that commemorate people around the City (with some controversial names). None – so far – has been dedicated to a woman.
Writer Giuseppe Parini on Piazza Cordusio, composer Giuseppe Versi on Buonarroti square, patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi on Largo Cairoli, writer Alessandro Manzoni on Piazza San Fedele, Leonardo da Vinci in front of La Scala theatre, and so on.
The city of Milan decided to join the 2020s and announced two new public commissions. even if the bronze celebratory monument belongs to the 19th century, at least they’re trying.
The first commission, sponsored by the Brivio Sforza foundation with the cultural enterprise Le Dimore and the patronage of the Municipality of Milan, will portray Cristina Trivulzio Belgiojoso, a revolutionary princess who played a prominent part in Italy struggle for independence.
The second one, will be the astrophysicist Margherita Hack, known as the ‘lady of the stars’. The Deloitte Foundation is working with Casa degli Artisti and the City Council Owner sculpture to celebrate the famous scientist that will be revealed in the spring of 2022, on the occasion of the centenary of her birth. Plans are to install it (rightly so) close to the Planetarium, alternatively, in the Garden of Porta Vittoria, on Corso XXII Marzo.
Over the past few years, the city has dedicated a bridge over the Navigli canals (and the Casa delle Arti) to poet Alda Merini, a crossing in the Tortona district to Milanese couturier Elvira Leonardi Bouyeure known as Biki, and five gardens respectively to journalist Oriana Fallaci, writer and activist Franca Rame, opera diva Renata Tebaldi, and art critic Fernanda Wittgens.
“The administration has always been committed to the recognition of the multifaceted talent of women.” Filippo Del Corno, Councillor for Culture of the City of Milan, stated in a note to the press. “It is a commitment that concerns the history the present and the future of our communities” – he continued.
