Verziere Column, named after the green street market that stood here in the Largo Augusto area until 1783, originally symbolized gratitude to Christ the Savior for the end of the plague epidemic in 1577.
But in 1848, an uprising against Austrian rule took place in Milan - ordinary people fought against the enormous army of Josef Radetzky, and even women and children went out onto the barricades. This was the five-day Milanese revolution, which became the first important step toward the unification of Italy. Then 354 people died, and their names are engraved on the bronze plaques that were later fastened to the base of Verziere Column.
Since then, it has become a monument to those killed in the uprising - the brave and independent residents of Milan. The column is made in the Baroque style traditional for Italy from pink granite quarried in the town of Baveno. At its top stands a statue of Christ the Savior by Francesco Richini.
