• Art & Culture
    • Religious Tourism
    • Lifestyle

Rotonda della Besana

If you want something unusual, visit the Rotonda di via Besana, a show of romantic and mysterious round shapes

Where
Via Enrico Besana, 12, Milano
Contacts

To the north east of Milan the Rotonda della Besana stands out in its urban setting. This is a singular late-baroque building, where art and religious tourism come together. 

This fascinating, charming monument takes its name from the church - now deconsecrated -  inside the brick portico. There was once a chapel in the centre of the burial area used for the dead from the Ospedale Maggiore, later converted to a church in 1695 and surrounded by a portico.

Excavation works for the recent restoration of the building have brought to light some 150 thousand bodies which had been buried in the crypts. When, at the end of the century, during the period of Austrian rule, the city was forced to move its cemeteries outside city walls, the Rotonda della Besana was closed and fell into disuse. 

The building was subsequently used as a barracks, a hay loft and also a laundry until, in 1958, it became the property of the Municipality, which decided to carry out consistent restoration work and return it to citizens in the form of a culture centre.

Today it is a green oasis of sophisticated beauty and elegance, used as a display space for exhibitions and events, with many Italian and overseas visitors. Since 2014, it is also home to the MUBA, the Museum of Children, a permanent centre for the development of cultural and artistic projects dedicated to younger users.

The Rotonda della Besana is an artistic and spiritual refuge from the hubbub of metropolitan life, where you can take time for reading, jogging, walking in the portico, or even enjoying an aperitif at the Bistro. An enchanted space where time stands still, and an invitation to enjoy the different aspects of nature and art.

Take me here: Rotonda della Besana

Places

Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa

  • Religious Tourism
Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa
557 mt

The Mysterious Baths

The dream of a memory, De Chirico’s legacy in a curious fountain, hidden in Parco Sempione
  • Lifestyle
The Mysterious Baths
683 mt

The Guastalla Gardens

Today it is one of Milan’s most beautiful green areas, located near the Duomo
  • Active & Green
The Guastalla Gardens
720 mt

Carcano Theater

Historic Milanese theater, it is still one of the largest halls in the city hosting prose, dance and music shows.
  • Art & Culture
Carcano Theater
849 mt

Porta romana

It was the Imperial gate and is the main gateway to Milan. From it started the road to the Ancient Rome
  • Art & Culture
Porta Romana
926 mt

Teatro Nuovo

A few steps from the Duomo, a theater that captures the most important innovations in the panorama of national and international shows.
  • Art & Culture
Teatro Nuovo
966 mt

Villa Necchi Garden

  • Parks
Villa Necchi Garden
1.04 km

Villa Necchi Campiglio

  • Art & Culture
Villa Necchi Campiglio, Milano
1.06 km

Duomo Museum

With 26 rooms, the Museum covers an area of 2000 square meters including sculptures, paintings, tapestries, terracottas
  • Art & Culture
Duomo Museum, outstanding museums
1.15 km

Royal Palace

Palazzo Reale is one of Milan’s most famous landmarks, the link between the city’s illustrious past and its innovative present.
  • Art & Culture
Royal Palace
1.16 km

Duomo of Milan

  • Religious Tourism
Duomo di Milano - @inLombardia
1.22 km

Museo del Novecento

A permanent collection of XXth century artwork inside Palazzo Arengario only a few steps away from the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery
  • Art & Culture
Museo del Novecento - Milano - @inLombardia
1.24 km

The Bald Cypresses of the Montanelli Gardens Indro Montanelli Gardens

  • Active & Green
The Bald Cypresses of the Montanelli Gardens Indro Montanelli Gardens
1.28 km

The Monumental Plane Trees of Milan

  • Active & Green
The Monumental Plane Trees of Milan
1.28 km

Natural History Museum

With an exhibition area with 23 rooms, it is today the largest and most important naturalistic museum in Italy
  • Art & Culture
Natural History Museum, tourism in Milan
1.31 km

Milano, the Fashion district

The Fashion District, an area in the heart of Milan, bordered by Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga, Corso Venezia and Via Montenapoleone
  • Lifestyle
Milano, the Fashion district
1.33 km

Bagatti Valsecchi Museum

House museum in the Montenapoleone district, the result of an extraordinary collecting event of the late nineteenth century
  • Art & Culture
Bagatti Valsecchi Museum, museums in Milan
1.34 km

Vittorio Emanuele Gallery

  • Lifestyle
Vittorio Emanuele Gallery, inspiring monuments
1.35 km

Casa Manzoni

It's one of those places where time seems to stand still: you can still breathe the romantic air in which the great writer lived
  • Art & Culture
Casa Manzoni, museum in Milan
1.36 km

Museo Giovani Artisti (Young Artists Museum)

  • Art & Culture
Museo Giovani Artisti (Young Artists Museum)
1.37 km

Events

Divorzio all'italiana

Teatro De Andrè
Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci, 23826, Mandello Del Lario (LC)
25/11/2024
  • Art & Culture
Divorzio all'italiana
2.64 km

L'albero di Natale

Teatro comunale Fabrizio De Andrè
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 23826, Mandello del Lario, LC.
13/12/2024
  • Art & Culture
L'albero di Natale
2.64 km

Suggestioni tra musica ed immagini

Teatro De André
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 23826, Mandello del Lario, LC.
22/12/2024
  • Art & Culture
Suggestioni tra musica ed immagini
2.64 km

Da Bach a Jannacci tutto è... jazz!

Teatro De André
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 23826, Mandello del Lario, LC.
17/01/2025
  • Music and show
Da Bach a Jannacci tutto è... jazz!
2.64 km

Lydia tra le nazioni

Teatro De André
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 23826, Mandello del Lario, LC.
27/01/2025
  • Art & Culture
Lydia tra le nazioni
2.64 km

Khorakandré

Teatro De André
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 23826, Mandello del Lario, LC.
01/02/2025
  • Music and show
Khorakandré
2.64 km

Pigiama per sei

Teatro De André
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 23826, Mandello del Lario, LC.
13/02/2025
  • Art & Culture
Pigiama per sei
2.64 km

L'assaggiatrice di Hitler

Teatro De André
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 23826, Mandello del Lario, LC.
28/02/2025
  • Art & Culture
L'assaggiatrice di Hitler
2.64 km

Lucio Battisti tribute show

Teatro De André
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 23826, Mandello del Lario, LC.
15/03/2025
  • Music and show
Lucio Battisti tribute show
2.64 km

Pignasecca e Pignaverde

Teatro De André
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 23826, Mandello del Lario, LC.
21/03/2025
  • Art & Culture
Pignasecca e Pignaverde
2.64 km

Fiori d'acciaio

Teatro De André
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 23826, Mandello del Lario, LC.
04/04/2025
  • Art & Culture
Fiori d'acciaio
2.64 km

Lo stato delle cose

Teatro De André
Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci, 23826, Mandello Del Lario (LC)
09/05/2025
  • Art & Culture
Lo stato delle cose
2.64 km

Activities

Fashion and Food in Milan

  • Food & Wine
Fashion and Food in Milan
913 mt

The Underground Milan – The hidden archaeological areas

  • Art & Culture
The Underground Milan – The hidden archaeological areas
973 mt

The Rooftop of the Duomo

  • Art & Culture
The Rooftop of the Duomo
973 mt

Private Tour discover Milan Highlights

  • Art & Culture
Private Tour discover Milan Highlights
1.22 km

Licensed tour, hiking and experiential Guides in Lombardia

  • Active & Green
Licensed tour, hiking and experiential Guides in Lombardia
1.22 km

Guided tour of Classic Milan

  • Art & Culture
Guided tour of Classic Milan
1.3 km

Longboard course for beginners

  • Active & Green
Longboard course for beginners
1.37 km

Guided tour of the Museum of La Scala, Milan

  • Art & Culture
Guided tour of the Museum of La Scala, Milan
1.49 km

Private walking tour Milan the city of fashion

  • Art & Culture
Private walking tour Milan the city of fashion
1.56 km

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, a tour to the masterpieces of Art

  • Art & Culture
The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana,  a tour to the masterpieces of Art
1.59 km

Milan - Franciacorta

  • Golf
Milan - Franciacorta
1.73 km

Golf, Relax and Wine in Lombardy

  • Golf
Golf, Relax and Wine in Lombardy
2.03 km

Leonardo da Vinci in Milan

  • Art & Culture
Leonardo da Vinci in Milan
2.1 km

The heart of Milan

  • Art & Culture
The heart of Milan
2.11 km

On the vintage tram in Milan, in the 1920’s atmosphere

  • Art & Culture
On the vintage tram in Milan, in the 1920’s atmosphere
2.13 km

San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, a very precious jewel

  • Art & Culture
San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, a very precious jewel
2.15 km

On the Navigli between courtyards and old-fashioned houses

  • Art & Culture
On the Navigli between courtyards and old-fashioned houses
2.18 km

Castello Sforzesco of Milan – The life at Court

  • Art & Culture
Castello Sforzesco of Milan – The life at Court
2.29 km

Guided tour of the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio

  • Art & Culture
Guided tour of the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio
2.32 km

Guided tour by boat on the Navigli of Milan

  • Art & Culture
Guided tour by boat on the Navigli of Milan
2.41 km

Where to sleep

GESTIONI IMMOBILIARI VIA VISCONTI VENOSTA EMILIO 2 sub. 11

MILANO
GESTIONI IMMOBILIARI VIA VISCONTI VENOSTA EMILIO 2 sub. 11
81 mt

Milano Besana Rent House

Milano
Milano Besana Rent House
82 mt

Montenero 57 sub 21

MILANO
Montenero 57 sub 21
111 mt

Casa Arancio

MILANO
Casa Arancio
111 mt

Monte Nero 57 Sub 32

MILANO
Monte Nero 57 Sub 32
126 mt

SANTARELLA GUEST HOUSE

MILANO
SANTARELLA GUEST HOUSE
127 mt

Monte Nero 55 sub 715

MILANO
Monte Nero 55 sub 715
127 mt

MONTE NERO 53 Sub.31

MILANO
MONTE NERO 53 Sub.31
130 mt

Podgora 1 sub 716

MILANO
Podgora 1 sub 716
132 mt

VIALE MONTE NERO 58_SUB 701

MILANO
VIALE MONTE NERO 58_SUB 701
141 mt

Berti ID 102

Milano
Berti ID 102
145 mt

The Best Rent

Milano
The Best Rent
145 mt

Casa Montenero

Milano
Casa Montenero
148 mt

VIA FOGAZZARO ANTONIO 8_SUB 735

MILANO
VIA FOGAZZARO ANTONIO 8_SUB 735
151 mt

VIA FOGAZZARO ANTONIO 8 sub. 921

MILANO
VIA FOGAZZARO ANTONIO 8 sub. 921
151 mt

Fogazzaro 8

Milano
Fogazzaro 8
151 mt

Alessio e Valeria

Milano
Alessio e Valeria
151 mt

Italianway Monte Nero 63 sub 91

MILANO
Italianway Monte Nero 63 sub 91
154 mt

Easylife Monte Nero 62 sub 721

MILANO
Easylife Monte Nero 62 sub 721
160 mt

DRAGON FLY FLAT - PRIVATA

Milano
DRAGON FLY FLAT - PRIVATA
161 mt