Arcivescovado, Archbishop's palace near Piazza Duomo, Milan, Italy.
Arcivescovado is the archbishop's palace beside Piazza Duomo in Milan, built on a Renaissance structure with a Neoclassical facade. The building features a monumental entrance portal with Mannerist details and organizes itself around a central courtyard with vaulted arcades.
The building emerged from medieval origins and was fundamentally reshaped in the 16th century under Carlo Borromeo. A century later, architect Giuseppe Piermarini modernized the structure and created the Neoclassical appearance seen today.
The name Arcivescovado comes from Italian, meaning "archbishop's seat." Visitors can observe the courtyard with its rusticated stone arches, which show how the city shaped its religious buildings during the Counter-Reformation period.
The palace serves as the residence of Milan's Archbishop and can only be visited by prior arrangement. It is advisable to contact the archdiocese to schedule a visit, as the building is not open for regular tourists.
Within the building's interior, medieval frescoes were discovered during 19th-century restoration work, depicting scenes of justice from the 14th century. These hidden artworks offer a rare glimpse into Milan's artistic past beneath later decoration.
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