Milan was once the capital of the Western Roman Empire. Today we stand before what was once Ex Casa Azzimonti. But imagine Milan in 286 AD. Emperor Diocletian moved the capital here from Rome.
Ex Casa Azzimonti might not whisper of those days directly. However, Milan’s streets walked on the aura of Roman power. Maximian, Diocletian’s colleague, resided in Milan. He built grand monuments. Though few visible traces remain Maximian expanded the city. He added a new stone wall about 4.5 km long with 24-sided towers.
Milan’s history stretches back further than Roman times. Celts founded the city in 600 BC. They called it Mediolanon. This meant “in the middle of the plain”. The Romans captured it in 222 BC. They renamed it Mediolanum.
Later Milan became a key center. It was the capital of the Duchy of Milan during the Renaissance. Milan became one of Europe’s largest cities. It thrived as a major trade and commercial hub.
Centuries later Napoleon Bonaparte also left his mark on Milan. He invaded Italy in 1796. Milan became the capital of several republics and kingdoms under his rule. In 1805 Napoleon crowned himself King of Italy in the Milan Cathedral.
Even earlier, in the 14th century, Milan had a near miss. The Black Death devastated Europe. Yet Milan was spared a major outbreak. Some say it was because affected households were sealed. This forced people to stay inside.
Not all plagues were avoided though. The Great Plague of Milan in 1629-1631 ravaged the city. It claimed about 60000 lives. This was nearly half the population.
Milan has seen Spanish and Austrian rule. In 1525 it became part of Spain. Then in 1714 it became Austrian. Except for a brief period under Napoleon. Finally in 1859 Milan joined the Kingdom of Italy.
Milan is also a city of innovation. The Pirelli Tower was Italy’s first skyscraper. Milan is now the Italian city with the most skyscrapers. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest active shopping mall in Italy.
Milan is a city of culture too. The Teatro alla Scala is a leading opera house. Many famous singers have performed there. Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” is in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Milan is a global city today. It is one of the fashion capitals of the world. It is the second most visited city in Italy after Rome. Milan blends ancient history with modern flair. Ex Casa Azzimonti is a silent witness to this long and fascinating story.