Palazzo Serbelloni, Neoclassicism in the heart of Porta Venezia

Palazzo Serbelloni, a jewel to be discovered

In this new exclusive guided tour, the undisputed star is Palazzo Serbelloni, unmistakable for the refined atmosphere of its rooms and the neoclassical flavor of its architectural language. But the history of the palace, built between 1765 and 1793 and designed by architect Simone Cantoni, tells much about 18th-century Milan as a whole: Of its fashions, its culture, its protagonists, its rapid transformations… Palazzo Serbelloni, commissioned by Duke Gabrio Serbelloni, stood in fact on Corso di Porta Orientale, an area of the city previously characterized by vegetable gardens and convents but which in those very years saw the appearance of many beautiful buildings in the neoclassical style, from Villa Belgiojoso (now home to the GAM) to Palazzo Bovara, which was also the home of the French writer Stendhal during his stay in Milan. Corso di Porta Orientale (today’s Corso di Porta Venezia) was being transformed into a refined carriage course, dotted with elegant palaces, now characterized by the unmistakable Art Nouveau style, inhabited by the city’s most prominent aristocratic families.

The Serbelloni family

The Serbelloni family was not to be outdone, and its home welcomed the most illustrious exponents of the Milanese Enlightenment, from Pietro Verri to the poet Giuseppe Parini, tutor of the Serbelloni household famous for describing in the verses of The Day the soft routine of a young Milanese gentleman. Salons, banquets, gallant encounters and carriage rides: this is the atmosphere we can still breathe when we visit Palazzo Serbelloni following our guides. Upon entering the residence, you will be amazed by the majesty of the building and the sumptuousness of the materials that decorate it, worthy of the guests who stayed there later, from Napoleon to Victor Emmanuel II. It is no coincidence that the mansion was home to the Circolo della Stampa from 1951 to 2015 and today is a prime location for exclusive events. From the beautiful porticoed courtyard to the internal spiral staircase we will stroll to the Napoleonic Rooms on the main floor, richly frescoed with mythological scenes. Every corner of this vast palace will amaze you with its elegance and the magnificence of its 18th- and 19th-century furnishings. Exploring Palazzo Serbelloni on an exclusive guided tour will be a unique experience to rediscover the charm of neoclassical Milan by traversing the spaces of one of the most beautiful historic residences in the entire city!