Monumento alla Resistenza Europea (Monument to the European Resistance)

Monument in Como

Monumento Resitenza Europea
Public Domain / Qazxsw

Gianni Colombo was a sculptor and a leading figure in post-World War II contemporary art. In the 1980s, he was invited to design a memorial for the victims of the war. He conceived a monument that was “not only visible but livable.”

The monument features three separate staircases that lead to an “absent” center. From this point, visitors can see leaning metal tablets inscribed with fragments of notes written by those condemned to death in World War II concentration camps. Both the steps and the metal tablets are inclined at various angles, disrupting the visitor’s sense of balance.

This deliberate imbalance creates a sensation of paresthesia and physical disorientation. The monument thus becomes a space that can be experienced, provoking a collective sense of bewilderment intended to spark dialogue about the Resistance. Translations of the notes into seven languages are provided on marble slabs alongside the stairs.

The memorial also includes stones from various concentration camps and from Hiroshima, adding to its profound symbolism. Located in Como’s city park, the monument was inaugurated in May 1983 by then-President of Italy, Sandro Pertini.

The Monumento alla Resistenza Europea (Monument to the European Resistance) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Como!

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Visiting Monumento alla Resistenza Europea (Monument to the European Resistance)

Address: Monumento alla Resistenza Europea, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, Como, Province of Como, Italy

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