One of the most ominous and controversial Catholic churches in Milan is, without a doubt, San Bernardino alle Ossa. It is widely known beyond Italy for the fact that the walls of the crypt adjoining this church are covered with a large number of human bones and skulls.
However, as a rule, no 'scary stories' are told in this church - the story of the crypt's origin is quite prosaic. It all began in 1145, when a hospital was built not far from the church of San Stefano Maggiore. It is important to note that in those times cemeteries were also often located next to hospitals - this was considered completely normal then. By 1210, however, the cemetery by that hospital had become overcrowded, and it was decided to build a separate chamber for the burial of the bones of those already interred in the cemetery. That is how the crypt that frightens tourists today was built.
59 years later, in 1269, the basilica of San Bernardino alle Ossa was added to this structure, and today the entrance to the crypt is through it.
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