Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Antonio Boggia (1799–1862) is widely considered to be the first recognized serial killer in Italian history.
Operating under the mask of a calm, devoutly religious building contractor, he terrorized Milan during the mid-19th century. He was infamously dubbed "The Monster of Milan" and "The Monster of Via Bagnera".
Neighbors and acquaintances viewed him as a trustworthy, helpful, and pious but his good-natured exterior shielded a calculating criminal who targeted victims entirely for financial
His documented murder spree spanned roughly between 1849 and 1859. Most of his horrific acts took place in and around Via Bagnera, which is famous for being one of Milan's narrowest streets.Boggia exploited his construction skills, multi-language fluency, and community trust to deceive his targets. He lured victims, killed them with an axe, and then dismembered their bodies before hiding them behind walls or under cellars.
He was formally convicted of murdering four people, though he attempted . In 1860, the suspicious disappearance of an elderly woman named Ester Maria Parrocchio led a judge to order a deep search of Boggia’s properties investigators searching a warehouse on Via Bagnera uncovered a gruesome scene containing the hidden, dismembered remains of his victims. He was convicted and sentenced to death. On April 8, 1862, Boggia was executed by hanging. This stood as one of the last civilian public executions carried out in Milan.
Local folklore dictates that a sudden, unnaturally cold gust of wind hitting walkers on the narrow Via Bagnera is actually the restless spirit of Antonio Boggia continuing to haunt the alleyway.
Antonio Boggia (1799–1862) is widely considered to be the first recognized serial killer in Italian history.
Operating under the mask of a calm, devoutly religious building contractor, he terrorized Milan during the mid-19th century. He was infamously dubbed "The Monster of Milan" and "The Monster of Via Bagnera".
Neighbors and acquaintances viewed him as a trustworthy, helpful, and pious but his good-natured exterior shielded a calculating criminal who targeted victims entirely for financial
His documented murder spree spanned roughly between 1849 and 1859. Most of his horrific acts took place in and around Via Bagnera, which is famous for being one of Milan's narrowest streets.Boggia exploited his construction skills, multi-language fluency, and community trust to deceive his targets. He lured victims, killed them with an axe, and then dismembered their bodies before hiding them behind walls or under cellars.
He was formally convicted of murdering four people, though he attempted . In 1860, the suspicious disappearance of an elderly woman named Ester Maria Parrocchio led a judge to order a deep search of Boggia’s properties investigators searching a warehouse on Via Bagnera uncovered a gruesome scene containing the hidden, dismembered remains of his victims. He was convicted and sentenced to death. On April 8, 1862, Boggia was executed by hanging. This stood as one of the last civilian public executions carried out in Milan.
Local folklore dictates that a sudden, unnaturally cold gust of wind hitting walkers on the narrow Via Bagnera is actually the restless spirit of Antonio Boggia continuing to haunt the alleyway.
