Marvelous isn’t it? Palazzo Durini. Right before your eyes stands a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. Commissioned in 1645 by the influential Count Giovan Battista Durini of Monza this palace is a true testament to 17th-century Milanese craftsmanship. The architect Francesco Maria Richini a leading figure in Lombardy at the time designed this imposing structure.
Notice the facade. It’s surprisingly understated for a Baroque palace. Unlike the flamboyant palaces you might find in Rome or Venice Palazzo Durini’s elegance lies in its subtle details. Look closely at the main entrance a monumental portal in rusticated stone. Above it is a majestic balcony of the piano nobile. The windows are decorated with alternating triangular and curvilinear pediments and supported by mascaron-shaped brackets. This motif is beautifully repeated in the cornice.
But the true magic lies within. Ascend the grand staircase adorned with Verona red marble. The antisala awaits a room decorated with breathtaking trompe-l’oeil frescoes. Continue through rooms embellished with painted medallions. You’ll finally reach the magnificent main hall. There you’ll find Melchiorre Gherardini’s breathtaking Triumph of Eros fresco. The Durini family spared no expense. They commissioned the best Lombard artists of the era. Names like the Nuvolone brothers Ercole Procaccini and Stefano Maria Legnani known as Il Legnanino are forever linked to this palace. Interestingly the same artists decorated the Duomo of Monza the Durini family’s fiefdom. The richly carved and gilded wooden ceilings are a sight to behold. Palazzo Durini once housed a renowned art collection one of the most significant in Northern Italy. It also boasted one of Europe’s finest tapestry collections including a series of Gardener Putti gifted to Cardinal Carlo Francesco Durini by King Louis XV of France. These tapestries now reside in Palazzo Braschi in Rome.
A fascinating anecdote involves the Spanish governor Guzmàn Ponce de Leòn. During the Spanish occupation he resided at Palazzo Durini as a guest of the family. The Durinis even added a small balcony to a window in his apartment overlooking Via Durini. This allowed him to address the Milanese public. After the Spanish left this balcony was moved to the tower of the Castello Durini in Fabbrica Durini near Como.
The palazzo has known several owners. Between 1921 and 1922 Paola Durini sold it to Senator Borletti. He resold it in 1925 to Gianni Caproni. The Caproni family owned it until 1980. It survived World War II though it suffered some damage from a nearby bomb blast. From 1945 to 1982 it housed the Circolo La Rinascente-Upim. Now Palazzo Durini continues to enchant visitors with its history. It stands as a symbol of Milan’s artistic and social heritage. It whispers stories of wealth power and enduring beauty. Remember this impressive facade this understated elegance. Remember the secrets held within Palazzo Durini.