Palazzo Serbelloni, Neoclassical palace in Porta Venezia, Milan, Italy
Palazzo Serbelloni is a neoclassical palace in the Porta Venezia area of Milan that features a large columned courtyard, an elaborate spiral staircase, and several rooms with mythological frescoes throughout the main level. The interior spaces display intricate wall paintings and carefully designed floors that reflect the wealth and taste of its original owners.
The palace was built between 1765 and 1793 under architect Simone Cantoni during a period of major urban transformation. In 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine stayed there for three months.
The Serbelloni family used the refined reception rooms regularly to gather with thinkers like Pietro Verri and Giuseppe Parini. These meetings shaped Milan's intellectual life in the 1700s.
Visitors can take guided tours led by licensed guides and an art historian from Fondazione Serbelloni. The tours require advance booking and include walking through multiple floors with different display areas.
During World War II, the building suffered severe damage from air raids in 1943, resulting in the loss of a significant collection of around 75,000 books from its library. Valuable frescoes were also destroyed, showing how fragile this historical place was during the conflict.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
