The Old Cemetery

The Village of Mendrisio had two parishes, the Church of San Cosma and Damiano and the Church of San Sisinio alla Torre -  therefore it had to have two cemeteries, one for each parish.

The ancient community of San Sisinio continued to bury its dead in the small Cemetery beside of the Church, Larking space, on May 1838 the Parish Council decided  to enlarge it.

At the end of the past century the Torriani Cemetery again larked space, but its enlargement was prevented by a decision made at the Town Hall on March 1871, which said:  

"the enlargement of said Cemetery is incompatible to the established laws".

Monument to the "mail Officer"

Carlo Torriani, + 1861

Monument to the "Captain of the fire brigade",  

  Giuseppe Torriani, +1875

The new Cemetery

The construction of a new Cemetery became necessary : arch. Ignazio Cremonini presented the plans in December 1884 and obtained the authorities  authorisations. 

The planimetric composition of the Torriani Cemetery is of a very elegant semicircular shape. it is in harmony with the land.

The planner adopted the solution of the raised passing arcade, and created a considerable space for the tombs in the lower room.

Of clear neoclassical art, it remembers the cemeteries built in Brescia by arch. Rodolfo Vantini

Everything is seen, nothing is hidden. The powerful granit dorich columns confer a strongly classical connotation to the whole building.

The Cemetery was blessed by Bishop Lachat in August 1886.

Text of Nicoletta Ossanna Cavadini