Imagine standing here in 1848. The air crackles with tension. Palazzo Borgazzi stands as a silent witness to Milan’s fight for freedom.
Palazzo Borgazzi, also known as Palazzo Stampa di Soncino Borgazzi, is a 19th-century neoclassical palace in Milan. It is located on Corso di Porta Vittoria. The Borgazzi family of Monza commissioned its construction. Architect Giovan Battista Chiappa designed it between 1828 and 1829.
Notice the unique facade of Palazzo Borgazzi. The four telamons flanking the entrance are striking. They are similar to those of the Casa degli Omenoni. An elegant courtyard is visible inside.
The palace’s walls once bore witness to a pivotal moment in Milanese history. During the Cinque Giornate in March 1848, Milanese citizens revolted against Austrian rule. Austrians retreating on March 22, 1848, left their mark. The recent restoration has erased the scars caused by the Austrian weapons.
For 170 years, these sbrecciature served as a tangible reminder of the battle. They marked the struggle for independence. The damage was visible below the two left windows. It marked the pilaster of one of the telamons. It was also under the first two right windows. Now, this historical record is gone. Only those who knew about it can still perceive something.
The Cinque Giornate, the Five Days of Milan, were a crucial event. Dissatisfaction with foreign rule was growing. A peaceful demonstration occurred on March 18, 1848. People demanded freedom of the press and more autonomy. The demonstration turned into a violent revolt. The goal was to eliminate Austrian oppression.
General Radezky, the Austrian commander, was caught off guard. The Milanese began erecting barricades. He retreated with his troops to the Castello Sforzesco. Revolution engulfed Milan. Aristocrats and bourgeois transformed their palazzi into rebel centers.
Other sites in Milan also bear witness to those battles. Casa De Maestri on Corso Venezia has marks. A cannonball remains lodged in the wall of Palazzo Acerbi. Palazzo Sormani still has a projectile in a ground-floor window.
Palazzo Borgazzi stands as a reminder. It reminds us of Milan’s turbulent past. It also reminds us of the importance of preserving historical memory. Even small details like wall marks can tell a powerful story.