Santuario della Beata Vergine del Lazzaretto

Ornago was the home of the historian and economist Pietro Verri, and a meeting place for the members of the 18th century Enlightenment movement in Lombardy and the testing ground for their scientific ideas – especially in agriculture.

The 18th century ‘Santuario della Beata Vergine del Lazzaretto’ is also worth visiting. Inside there is Verri’s altarpiece depicting San Martino, Francesco Corneliani’s ‘The Prodigal Son’, and a 19th century Amati organ. The Verri 18th century family chapel, where the whole family is buried, is near the sanctuary.  It is an exceptional example of a funerary chapel built outside a church (though within its perimeter). Verri had wanted it like that to symbolise independence and freedom of thought of the enlightenment intellectual. The funerary monument was inspired by Immanuel Kant’s in Kaliningrad.