Solferino, Museum of the Risorgimento of Solferino and San Martino

Historical Museum. The battle of 24th June 1859 on the hills between Solferino, San Martino and Castiglione delle Stiviere was fought between the French-Sardinian army led by Napoleon III, the ally of Vittorio Emanuele II, and the Austrian army commanded by Franz Joseph. The victory of the French-Sardinian army caused a large number of tolls: 11,000 dead and 29,000 injured. This tragic event was the source of inspiration for Henry Dunant from Geneva to establish the International Red Cross. In 1861, the non-profit corporation Società Solferino e San Martino was founded with the aim of burying those who had died on the battle fields. The curia of Mantua donated the newly established Società the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli, which had been devastated by several pieces of artillery, so that it could become an ossuary; in few years the Church was restored and in the first days of June of 1870 it became today’s Ossuary Chapel. The Ossuary was conceived to serve as a warning against all wars. Sixty years after its setting up, the Società Solferino e San Martino had the Museum of the Risorgimento of Solferino and San Martino built, following the wish of the collectioner Commendatore Gaudenzio Carlotti. The museum is structured around four buildings: the Risorgimento Museum, the Ossuary Chapel, the Fortress and the International Red Cross Memorial.