Casa Atellani, Renaissance palazzo in Corso Magenta, Milan, Italy
Casa Atellani is a Renaissance palazzo on Corso Magenta featuring a renovated facade with four medallions displaying Sforza family portraits. The property includes a restored neo-Baroque garden and rooms with historical frescoes and decorative elements from different periods.
Duke Ludovico Sforza connected this building to the Atellani family in 1490, turning it into a gathering place for the Milanese court. In the 20th century, architect Piero Portaluppi undertook a transformation in 1922, preserving earlier artwork while introducing modern design elements.
The Hall of the Zodiac displays fourteen painted lunettes showing celestial signs alongside a map of Italy and seasonal figures in Renaissance style. These rooms reflect how educated families of the period decorated their homes with artistic and scientific imagery.
The building sits just steps from the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where Leonardo's Last Supper painting is located. Visitors can easily combine both sites in a single outing and should plan a couple of hours to explore the rooms and garden.
A grapevine grows in the building, said to descend from an original vine that Leonardo da Vinci planted here when he lived in Milan. This vineyard is still tended today and offers a direct link to the renowned artist who spent extended time working as a guest in the city.
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