Villa Triste, Historical villa in Milan, Italy
Villa Triste is a building in Milan located on Via Paolo Uccello that features reinforced walls and a garden with spotlights. Underground cells were added in 1944 to the basement level.
During World War II, the building was used by Pietro Koch and his associates as a detention and torture facility for Italian resistance fighters. Following protests from Milan residents, Justice Minister Piero Bisenti ordered its closure in December 1944.
The site serves as a place of remembrance for visitors, marking the resistance against fascism in the city. A memorial plaque from 1986 reflects how the community chose to honor those who suffered here.
The building is located in Milan's Lombardy region near several World War I and II memorials, including the Monument to the Fallen. Visitors may find it helpful to explore the nearby Stumbling Stones to understand the network of memorial sites across the city.
The building was originally known as Villa Fossati before taking on its current name, which reflects the dark history of what occurred there. The name developed through collective memory rather than an official change.
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