Palazzo Belgioioso

Beautiful palace built by Alfonso di belgioioso through the union of two previous buildings. Bombed heavily during the Second World War, today it houses architects' studios and a modern art gallery

The façade is imposing, the courtyard is very beautiful: it is worth taking advantage of every opportunity to enter it! The palace - built in the last decades of the eighteenth century by Giuseppe Piermarini (inspired by the model of Luigi Vanvitelli of the Royal Palace of Caserta) for Prince Alberico XII of Belgioioso d'Este, an important collector of books and works of art, who made this house a cultural salon frequented by illustrious artists and writers of the time - it is privately owned, therefore it is not usually accessible: usually you have to limit yourself to admire the rich neoclassical facade, with 25 windows and 3 doors, tall half-columns resting on a base ashlar, a triangular central pediment, beautiful and imposing. There are, however, times when the building becomes accessible, at least partially: e.g. National ADSI Days - Open Courtyards or FAI Days. There is a lot of crowds, but it is worth taking advantage of. On these occasions I was able to see: - the beautiful arcaded courtyard on granite columns: above the arches there are windows, embellished with decorations with crowns, eagles, palms and festoons; - the grand staircase (which opens to the right end of the portico) which leads to the main floor, partly used today as offices, in which the rooms (which I have never been able to access) are richly decorated with the golden stuccos of Giacomo Albertolli and the frescoes by Martin Knoller; - at the bottom of the main courtyard, beyond the gate, a small garden, nice and well-kept; on the walls of the portico that precedes it the coats of arms in stone significant for the Belgioioso family, historically, closely linked to the Visconti.

Next to Casa Manzoni. Banca IMI inherited a beautiful and functional structure from Intesa Private. The conference room on the ground floor is one of the most beautiful in Milan.

Very nice but managed by uncivilized people who don't even allow you to enter the courtyard !! Although privately owned it must be allowed to admire it !! This is also one of the reasons why in Italy we go very badly: we don't even show the many beautiful things we have.

Visited on FAI spring day, disappointed that the interiors cannot be visited, as they are occupied by professional studios or private homes. Visible the square with the facade, the internal courtyard, the grand staircase and the garden. Cited by the guide are two galleries, one for ballroom use and indicated the presence of a chapel, but none of this can be visited. Don't waste your time.

Walking through the old part of Milan, there are many buildings, one more beautiful than the other, between small squares and old porphyry streets.

Magnificent location for contemporary art, now home to #peresproject!