Palazzo Turati

Palazzo Turati is a Renaissance Revival building in central Milan with a polished metal exterior and dark tinted glass windows. The facade combines classical design language with structural techniques that were novel for the late 1800s.

Francesco Turati commissioned architect Enrico Combi to design this building in 1876 during a period of intense urban transformation in Milan. It was built as part of a wave of modernization projects that reshaped the city's appearance.

The palazzo reflects how Milan wanted to present itself as a modern city in the late 1800s while honoring classical traditions. Walking past it today, you see how the city balanced old architectural values with new construction methods of that era.

The building sits in Milan's central business district and is easy to explore on foot. You get the best views of the metal facade from the street level, particularly in morning light when details stand out clearly.

Inside the courtyard sits a quiet garden with dark gravel and evergreen plants, which also cleverly incorporates ventilation grids for an underground parking area below. This unusual combination shows how practical building systems were woven into the outdoor design.