The incomplete building of San Michele

In the territory of the municipality of Galbiate, the church of San Michele has a unique history. At the request of Notary Francesco Spreafico, who gave instructions in his 1682 will, the building was designed by the Milanese architect Attilio Arrigoni. Construction began in 1718, and the building featured an octagonal plan. However, it was never fully completed with finishes, furnishings, paving, or windows, and a temporary covering added in 1752 eventually collapsed in 1939.

Because the church was never finished, it was never used for religious functions. During the seventeenth century, the site was used for death commemoration processions. As epidemics declined, devotion to the dead at San Michele diminished, and popular festivals and celebrations took its place. These events gave rise to the Sagra di San Michele.

Documents dating perhaps to the eighteenth century show that the festival often hosted more than 100 banquets. The event reached its peak of splendor in the nineteenth century, with Queen Margherita attending in 1883. Today, the building is undergoing restoration and is used for cultural events.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons