Palazzo Carmagnola

History and description

The original palace was built in the early years of the 15th century by the Visconti, who used it as a second-rate residence, having at their disposal larger and more sumptuous ones. In fact, as early as 1415, it was donated by Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan, to Carmagnola, a famous condottiere of the time, who undertook its radical renovation between 1420 and 1425. On his death by beheading in Venice in 1432, the palace was inherited by his daughters; here in 1465 was held the ceremony with which Genoa lent total dedication to Francesco Sforza, in an anti Savoia key. Lodovico il Moro already claimed ownership of it in the last years of the 15th century: he obtained it by confiscation, forfeiting it as regalia, after the death of Pietro II Dal Verme, who in turn had received it as an inheritance from his mother Luchina Bussone, daughter of Carmagnola. In those years the palace underwent major renovation works, which saw its completion with fine colonnades very similar to those of the Monastery of Santa Maria del Lentasio and its transfer, in 1497, to the mistress of Duca Cecilia Gallerani. Under his supervision, both Bramante and Leonardo took part in the embellishment of the palace, to whom is also attributable the peculiar sundial designed in the ground of the second courtyard.

With the entry of the French into Milan, the palace passed into the hands of the latter; in 1505 it was sold by Carlo d'Amboise, French Governor of Milan, to Francesco Bebulco, master of the ordinary revenues. From 1605, it also served as the public granary. In 1714 some premises were readapted to house the offices of the Banco di Sant'Ambrogio; new works were started from 1770, to adapt the structure to house the Civic Archives, directed by the historian Giorgio Giulini. In 1773 the Tribunale di Provvisione was also transferred here from Piazza Mercanti. In 1786 it became the Broletto Novissimo, i.e. the municipal seat of the municipality of Milan, replacing the Broletto Nuovo. …