Italy in Photos

Viale Giancarlo Puecher, 22100 Como CO, Italy (June 2022)

Monumento ai Caduti di Como

Situated on the scenic shores of Lake Como, the Monumento ai Caduti di Como stands as a solemn yet architecturally striking tribute to the 650 citizens of Como who perished during World War I. Designed by Giuseppe Terragni, a leading figure in Italy’s Rationalist architectural movement, in collaboration with his brother Attilio (then mayor of Como), the monument was completed and inaugurated in 1933 .

The monument draws inspiration from a visionary sketch by futurist architect Antonio Sant’Elia, a Como native and one of WWI’s early casualties. Sant’Elia envisioned a lighthouse-like structure symbolizing dynamism and modernity, ideas that Terragni adapted into a dignified memorial tower . Standing approximately 33 meters tall, the monument is clad in sleek Serizzo granite and Nabresina marble, its polished surfaces casting subtle reflections of the surrounding landscape—melding modernist aesthetics with the enduring solemnity of remembrance . Four planar columns frame geometric openings above a monumental plinth, creating a sense of solemn stability and vertical resonance .

Embedded within the base is a massive granite monolith, engraved with the names of the fallen soldiers, marking their sacrifice in a visually and emotionally powerful centrepiece. The interior includes a chapel-like crypt accessed by a winding staircase, further deepening the monument’s contemplative atmosphere .

Inscriptions amplify the memorial’s emotional weight: one façade facing the city reads, “The city exalts her sons with stones from Carso, 1915-1918”, while another toward the lake declaims, “Tonight we sleep in Trieste or in Paradise among the heroes.” Attributed to Sant’Elia, these words infuse the structure with poetic gravitas .

Beyond its commemorative role, the Monumento ai Caduti reflects Como’s engagement with modern architecture during the 1930s, and the complex legacy of Italian Rationalism within a Fascist context. Today, it remains a compelling landmark along the lakeshore, inviting thoughtful reflection. Its bold geometric design contrasts with the serene waters of Lake Como and the neoclassical elegance of nearby monuments, such as the Tempio Voltiano, offering a visually and thematically layered experience.