Castles of Milan, palaces and mansions

Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello Sforzesco

The symbol of the city of Milan, it was built in the fifteenth century by Francesco Sforza. It was a major military citadels in Europe between the sixteenth and the seventeenth century. Today, it houses the Egyptian Museum, an art gallery, among other galleries and museums of the Viscount.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Loggia degli Osii

The loggia was built in the early fourteenth century, on commission by Matteo Visconti and is a work by the architect San Gimignano. The style used is Gothic and can be seen on the building with porches and loggias. On the façade you can see two overlapping loggias, on the top floor there are statues collected by a series of three windows. The façade is decorated with Viscount coats of arms and heraldic emblems of the wards.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Litta

The work of the well-known architect Bartolomeo Bolli, Palazzo Litta is certainly the jewel of Milan, and is often referred to as the most important symbol of the Baroque style. It has a central structure, three floors high with a portal covered by the convex balcony. All the windows are decorated with folders, garlands in the gables and shells, instead those on the first floor also have small balconies. Do not miss the main floor that contributed to the fame of the building.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Casa degli Omenoni

The structure was built in the mid-1500s and was the residence of the sculptor, Leone Leoni. It consists of two orders and an attic which is punctuated vertically into seven compartments. On the ground floor you can see eight colossal caryatids in stone, which depict the defeated barbarians. On the main floor, we find the recessed columns of Ionian order that alternate with niches and windows to which in the 19th century the balconies were added to it. The courtyard is rectangular with three porch wings.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo dell'Arengario

The palace was built in the mid-20th century, by the collaboration of three architects. The monument consists of two buildings with façades clad in marble and decorated with bas-reliefs by A. Martini. On the base there are rectangular portals with frames with floral motifs. In the 1950s, the building underwent a renovation and was used as municipal offices. Since 2009, the palace has been home to the Museo del Novecento.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Casa Fontana Silvestri

The Casa Fontana Silvestri was built in the twelfth century. It was the home of the guardian of the Oriental Gate, Angelo Fontana. Its current appearance is attributed to the reconstruction made in the fourteenth century. The building is developed around the courtyard. Originally the façade was rich in frescoes by Bramante, but over the centuries they have almost all disappeared, you can see only a few remains under the cornice.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Simonetta

Villa Simonetta dates back to the beginning of the 16th century and is a typical Renaissance patrician villa; it was built on commission of the nobleman Gualtiero Bascapè. Originally it was rectangular, but at the end of the 16th century it was enlarged with two side wings. The main facade is formed from a portico with nine arches with Tuscan columns on rectangular bases. The prestigious villa was decorated both inside and outside by cycles of frescoes, but unfortunately only a few traces remained visible.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Trivulzio

The Palazzo Trivulzio was built in the early 18th century, on commission of the homonymous family and is a work by the architect G. Ruggeri. The facade is modest with decorations where the balcony stands out with the family coat of arms. Inside, however, you can notice the luxury of decorations with rich particularities such as porches, decorated ceilings and lavish furnishings. The palace became famous in the past for the parties held inside it.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Serbelloni

The famous Palazzo Serbelloni in which Napoleon Bonaparte lived for three months is built in neoclassical style and was one of the first palaces erected in that course. The building was built above an existing seventeenth-century building. A prominent element on the facade is the neoclassical loggia designed by the architect S. Cantoni. The large room has been named Sala Napoleonica, and is used to host conferences and events.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Dugnani

Palazzo Dugnani is an elegant mansion built in the 18th century in Rococo style and has had several owners over the years. From the street you can see the three-level façade with a central arched portal, decorated with light stucco, and with a series of smooth framed windows. Inside you can admire three large oval frescoes and a large painting with mythological figures that is located on the ceiling of the first floor.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo di Giustizia

The Palace of Justice in Milan is a relatively new building, which was built by the architect Marcello Piacentini, in the years 1932 and 1940. The interior of the building is beautifully decorated with high reliefs, mosaics, frescoes and statues that illustrate the history of Justice. The main facade and the entrance are dominated by impressive Latin phrases, concerning the principles of Justice.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo delle Scuole Palatine

The Palatine School Palace was built in the '600, by the architect Carlo Buzzi. It consists of two floors, with arched porch and is rich in decorations. On the ground floor there is a tombstone with an epigram of the famous poet Ausonio. The triangular windows are lined with mermaids and contain heraldic coats of arms. The facade contains a statue of Saint Augustine, a teacher who taught in the institute.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo della Ragione

The origin of the palace dates back to the 13th century and until the middle of the 17th century it served as the seat of the Municipality. The building is certainly a medieval testimony from a historical and architectural point of view, with a typical rectangular structure and with two extensive aisles of arcades that form a real covered square, which was used for the traditional fair, at the time of the Visconti. The second floor consists of a large room with an area of one thousand square meters. Today the palace hosts art and photography exhibitions.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo del Senato

The origin of the palace dates back to the early 17th century and was built at the behest of the Cardinal of Milan, F. Borromeo. The building was designed to become the seat of the Swiss college, and stands on the ruins of a monastery. The style used in the construction is the Baroque one and of particular interest is the facade decorated with windows with triangular gables. Inside the building there are two large courtyards consisting of a double order of loggias. Over the centuries the function of the palace has changed several times to finally become, in 1872, the State Archives.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo dei Giureconsulti

The Palazzo dei Giureconsulti was built at the behest of the noble Giovanni Angelo Medici, in the mid-16th century, and is a work by the architect V. Seregni. The building is one of the most important buildings in Piazza dei Mercanti and was initially designed to host the college of “Noble Doctors”, an institution to train important figures of the state such as senators and judges. Over the centuries the building was destroyed and rebuilt several times. Since 1911 it has been owned by the Chamber of Commerce and hosts conferences, conferences and exhibitions.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Castiglioni

Palazzo Castiglioni was built in the early 1900s by the architect Sommaruga and is the first Art Nouveau building in the city. The building consists of three floors with a stone base and two facades. The windows are narrow and tall, decorated with putti reggi. Even if the building has undergone a restoration, losing its authenticity, the wonderful staircase remains intact flanked by shiny settlers and metal railings with floral motifs.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Berri Meregalli

Palazzo Berri Meregalli was built in the early 1900s by the architect Giulio Ulisse Arata. The architecture of the palace is a mix of styles, of Neo-Romanesque, Neo-Gothic and Neo-Renaissance fused together with great skill. The building consists of two facades decorated with arches, bricks and statues. The door is reminiscent of the entrance of a medieval castle above which you can see monstrous sculptures and polychrome mosaics.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Arcivescovile

The Archbishop's Palace is located in Piazza Fontana and is the work of several architects. Over the centuries the palace has been rebuilt many times, and today only a part that preserves medieval architecture and a hamlet with decorations have remained intact. During the renovation in the late 19th century, fourteenth-century frescoes were found, which decorated the living room. Part of these frescoes and others recovered in other spaces of the building are exhibited today in the Archbishopric.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Reale

Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Reale

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo di Brera

Located in the old quarter of Brera this beautiful eighteenth century palace is home to the famous Art Gallery, the Academy of Fine Arts (Milan's art school), the National Braidense Library, the Astronomical Observatory and the Botanical Gardens.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Litta Modignani

The Litta Modignani villa consists of a central building with three floors from which short side bodies extend that form a small courtyard for carriages. The construction dates back to the early 18th century and was the home of the homonymous family. In the facades you can see decorations such as bands and frames and some balconies with iron railings. Although in poor condition due to inuse, the villa inside it maintains many decorations in the doors, scrolls and frescoed vaults.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Scheibler

Villa Scheibler takes its name from its last owners and was built in two different historical periods, the first construction dates back to the mid-'400 and then expanded in the '700. It was designed as a hunting estate for the famous nobleman Ludovico il Moro and had a church and a stable inside it. Since it was abandoned for a long time, much of the church is degraded. The villa is surrounded by a beautiful park that is under restoration. The beauty of the park and the clubs make it a Little Versaille.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Litta Cusini

It is not known exactly when Palazzo Litta Cusini was erected, which is apparently relatively new, but it is believed to have been superimposed on a very old building. The palace has a long façade decorated with small columns and statues with lion heads with open mouths. Another special feature is the widening of the doors to the whole or outside to facilitate the movement of the carriages. One of the corridors is decorated with medallions depicting the Duke and his wife.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Anguissola

Palazzo Anguissola dates back to the period of neoclassicism and was the home of Count Antonio Anguissola. The building was built between 1775 and 1778, by the architects Soave and Canonica. Inside it is decorated with frescoes, imitation marbles, gilding and mosaics, recreating the atmosphere of classical civilization. Since 2011, the building has been home to the Gallerie d'Italia and houses about 200 works from the '800- '900.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Gallarati Scotti

Palazzo Gallarati Scotti is a vast building built in the early 18th century at the behest of the homonymous family. It has a Baroque style with an articulated front, with three stone balconies and a porch with Tuscan columns that surround the main courtyard. Even if the building has been damaged, it still retains some of the Baroque decorations and a remarkable collection of Art.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Borromeo d'Adda

Palazzo Borromeo d'Adda was built by the architect Arganini at the behest of the Marquis Fedo d'Adda. The building consists of a very long facade in neoclassical style, with a central arched door and decorated with granite settlers, who hold the noble balcony. Of particular interest is the monumental staircase turned into barrels. Artists and literaries have always attended this palace as a meeting place.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Melzi di Cusano

The Palace dates back to the mid-20th century and is the work of the well-known architect Giovanni Battista Bareggi. The building was built on an existing dwelling of the '400, with a neoclassical style. The front side is characterized by huge pillars of Ionian order, while inside the noble apartment we can still observe the neoclassical decorations. Currently, part of the building houses the Razor Museum which shows the evolution of the art of shaving.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Isimbardi

Palazzo Isimbardi dates back to the fifteenth century and is located in the oldest part of the city. Over the years the building was renovated several times. The long façade has large stucco frames and inside there is a porch courtyard. Inside the rooms of the palace we can admire numerous works of art and decorations, dating back to different historical periods.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Belgioioso d'Este

Palazzo Belgioioso was built at the behest of Prince Albert XII and was built by the architect Piermarini. The building best reflects neoclassical architecture, and is surrounded by three courtyards with Doric granite columns. All facades are marked by three doors and twenty-five windows decorated with eagles, palm trees and crowns. Inside the main floor we can admire a series of rooms decorated with frescoes and gold stuccoes.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Brentani

Palazzo Brentani was built in the 17th century, but its current appearance dates back to the reconstruction that took place in the 19th century, on commission of the Greppi family. The front side is divided into three floors with a stone base and in the center is the main entrance. The eleven medallions with the busts of the big names in the history of Milan are located above the windows of the first floor. In 1923, a new courtyard was built covered by engineer Giovan Battista Casati.

Castles, palaces and mansions

I Chiostri dell'umanitaria

The building is located in the heart of Milan, behind the Palace of Justice. It is a historic building from the 15th century, characterized by famous cloisters and the splendid frescoes hall. It contains a courtyard and a refectory that has been refurbished and adapted into a lounge for various parties and presentations with a capacity for 200 guests.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Litta Biumi

The Palace reflects a baroque structure. Its construction dates back to the seventeenth century and is divided over three floors. The peculiarity of the building is represented by the Courtyard of Honor and the Courtyard of the Clock. He underwent restoration work as a result of damage reported after World War II.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Borromeo

The palace was built at the end of the 13th century at the behest of the Borromeo family, and is one of the oldest residences in Milan. Over the years, the palace has undergone several restorations, losing part of the Gothic architecture. It consists of two courtyards, but only the 'honorable' courtyard is the best preserved part of this building. Inside it presents a cycle of frescoes that decorate the central hall and the rich art gallery, works by Michelino di Besozzo.

Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzina Liberty Largo Marinai d'italia

The structure of the Liberty Palace was conceived by the architect Migliorini, being part of an ancient point in the city where the merchants met for many years. This is the only structure left of the old complex. Its feature is the stained glass windows as well as the ceramic tiles that create beautiful interior decorations.