The Campari tomb in Milan, officially known as the Edicola Campari, is one of the most recognisable monuments inside the Monumental Cemetery. Created by sculptor Giannino Castiglioni between 1936 and 1939, it transforms the Last Supper into a monumental bronze group raised above a massive porphyry boulder.
It is both a family memorial and a striking encounter between Milan’s religious imagery, industrial history and twentieth-century sculpture. Even on a short visit, this is a monument worth seeking out.
Campari Monument: essential facts
- Official name: Edicola Campari.
- Location: Rialzato AB di Ponente, space M.
- Artist: Giannino Castiglioni.
- Date: 1936 to 1939.
- Material and subject: a bronze sculptural group representing the Last Supper, placed on a porphyry boulder.
- Commission: erected at the request of Davide Campari for the Campari family.
- Suggested viewing time: 10 to 15 minutes.
What you will see
The monument stands at the end of the avenue separating the two western raised terraces. Its bronze figures gather around the table of the Last Supper above an irregular block of porphyry. The rough geological mass below and the carefully modelled figures above create a powerful contrast between permanence, human presence and loss.
The subject inevitably recalls Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, one of Milan’s defining works, but Castiglioni translates the scene from a painted wall into a three-dimensional funerary monument. Instead of seeing the figures from a single frontal viewpoint, visitors can observe the sculptural group from different angles and notice how gestures, spacing and silhouettes organise the scene.
Who was Davide Campari?
Davide Campari (1867 to 1936) was the son of Gaspare Campari, who began producing the bitter associated with the family name in Milan during the nineteenth century. Davide developed the business further, including the production of a sweet cordial, and helped turn Campari into an internationally recognised company.
The company’s growth was tied not only to production and distribution, but also to a remarkably modern understanding of design and advertising. Artists including Fortunato Depero and Bruno Munari contributed to the visual culture surrounding the brand. The family monument therefore belongs to a wider Milanese story in which industry, art and communication repeatedly intersect.
Giannino Castiglioni and the monument
Giannino Castiglioni (1884 to 1971) was a prolific sculptor whose work ranged from medals and civic memorials to large funerary and commemorative complexes. At the Monumental Cemetery he also created the colossal Via Crucis for the Bernocchi family tomb, completed between 1933 and 1936.
Castiglioni also worked on war memorials, including the monumental cemetery at Redipuglia. That experience with large groups and public commemoration helps explain the Campari Monument’s theatrical scale and strong visibility within the cemetery landscape.
Why the Last Supper?
The Last Supper is a Christian image of farewell, sacrifice and the promise of life beyond death, making it appropriate to a funerary setting. In Milan it carries an additional local resonance because of Leonardo’s celebrated mural at Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Here the image is not simply copied. Castiglioni uses the familiar subject to create a memorial that is monumental, readable from a distance and inseparable from the physical setting of the cemetery.
How to find the Campari Monument
From the main entrance, move towards the western side of the cemetery and follow signs for the raised western terraces. The official location is Rialzato AB di Ponente, space M. The monument stands at the end of the avenue dividing terraces A and B, opposite the arches leading towards the outer sections.
Because the cemetery is large and path access can change, collect a map at the entrance or ask the Infopoint to mark the monument before starting. Allow additional time if you are combining it with other western-side mausoleums.
What to notice when you arrive
- The contrast between dark bronze and the natural porphyry base.
- The way the group changes as you move from a frontal to an oblique view.
- The gestures and distances between the figures around the table.
- The balance between a recognisable religious scene and a modern monumental composition.
- How the work uses its position at the end of an avenue to create a dramatic approach.
Photography and respectful visiting
The monument can be appreciated without leaving the designated paths. Do not climb onto the porphyry base, touch the bronze figures or cross barriers for a photograph. Keep clear of funerals and mourners, and follow the cemetery’s rules for personal and professional photography.
Campari Monument: quick answers
What is the Campari Tomb?
The Campari Tomb is the family memorial of Davide Campari. Its defining feature is Giannino Castiglioni’s monumental bronze interpretation of the Last Supper.
Who created the Campari Monument?
Italian sculptor Giannino Castiglioni created the monument between 1936 and 1939.
Where is the Campari Tomb inside the cemetery?
It is in the western raised area, at Rialzato AB di Ponente, space M, at the end of the avenue separating terraces A and B.
Continue your visit
- Explore more remarkable family mausoleums.
- See the cemetery’s best-known memorials in the guide to famous tombs.
- Follow the one-hour walking route for a broader introduction.
- Check the opening hours and last admission before travelling.
Official source and last check
Historical details, attribution, date and location were checked in October 2026 against the Municipality of Milan’s official Edicola Campari record. This is an independent visitor guide, not the official cemetery administration.
Researched and written by Giovanni Passaro. Information checked against official Municipality of Milan sources in October 2026.