Manfredo Manfredi (biography)

Manfredo Manfredi was born in Piacenza on 16th April 1859.
In 1880 he enrolled in the School of Fine Arts, graduated in architecture and participated in a number of architectural design competitions, including one launched for a monument building project to honour Victor Emmanuel II on the Capitolin Hill. He ranked second in this competition won by the architect Giuseppe Sacconi, with whom he had served an apprenticeship for a short period. He was awarded several prizes by both the School of Fine Arts and the Academy of St. Luke. 

His major works include: the Tomb of Victor Emmanuel II at the Pantheon, the Memorial Charnel-House at Santa Maria Capua Vetere in memory of those who died in the Battle of Volturno dating back to 1st October 1860, the Italian pavilions at the Universal Expositions held in Chicago, 1893, in Antwerp, 1894, in Paris, 1900 and at the International Exhibition of Hunting in Wien of 1910, the Juniculum Hill Lighthouse dedicated to the Italians who emigrated to Argentina, the Sao Paulo Monument to honour the Brazilian Independence. 

He also run the restoration works carried out in Venise St. Mark cathedral (1903-1914) and the rebuilding of the its bell tower, in collaboration with other architects (1902-1912). In 1905 he was appointed, along with Pio Piacentini and Gaetano Koch, Director of works required to complete the Vittoriano (Victor Emmanuel II Monument) in Rome, to which he dedicated his efforts till the day he died. 

He made a significant contribution to the setting up of the Roma-based Scuola Superiore di Architettura (University Institute of Architecture) he directed from 1908 to 1920. He also served as a Liberal Member of the Parliament from 1909 to 1919. He died in Piacenza on 13th October 1927.