Saint Martin ossuary

The Saint Martin ossuary is a chapel in Desenzano del Garda that houses human remains of soldiers arranged within a religious space. The display sits behind the altar and presents the remains in an organized manner within this small sacred building.

The building was inaugurated in 1870 to honor soldiers who died at the Battle of Solferino in 1859 during Italy's Second War of Independence. This battle marked a turning point in the struggle for Italian unity.

The chapel's name connects to local religious traditions and its role as a commemorative space for the fallen. Visitors notice memorial plaques on the exterior walls that document fighters from different Italian cities.

The site is small and somewhat removed from the town center, so visitors should plan to reach it deliberately. Enough time should be set aside to view the display carefully and read the commemorative information.

Thousands of skulls and bones were recovered from mass graves and arranged in a specific formation within the chapel. This collection provides a direct and solemn encounter with the scale of loss from this historical battle.

Location: Desenzano del Garda

Inception: June 24, 1870

GPS coordinates: 45.42704,10.60493

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:06