Milan may be synonymous with fashion and innovation, but beyond its skyscrapers and boutiques lies another, more romantic side of the city—its Stile Liberty, Italy’s version of Art Nouveau. During Art Nouveau Week, there’s no better time to explore the city’s elegant, organic, and often overlooked architectural gems.
If you’re passionate about architecture in Milan, this guide will take you through the most iconic examples of Liberty style buildings, decorative arts, and museum collections that celebrate the turn-of-the-century aesthetic movement.
What Is Liberty Style?
Originating in the late 19th century, Art Nouveau—called Stile Liberty in Italy—flourished between 1890 and 1914. Inspired by nature, mythology, and fluid organic forms, it rejected industrial mass production and historic imitation. Instead, artists and architects embraced a handcrafted aesthetic with curving lines, floral motifs, and rich symbolism.
The Italian version of Art Nouveau took its name from Liberty & Co., the famous London department store that popularized the style in decorative arts. In Milan, architects such as Giuseppe Sommaruga and Giovanni Battista Bossi pioneered the Liberty movement, transforming private villas, residential façades, and public buildings into works of art.
Where to See Liberty Style Architecture in Milan
Casa Galimberti – Via Malpighi 3
An iconic example of Liberty style architecture in Milan, Casa Galimberti (1905) is a visual feast. Covered in painted ceramic tiles and framed with wrought iron balconies and botanical motifs, the building was designed by Giovanni Battista Bossi and is best viewed from across the street to fully admire its ornate façade.
Casa Guazzoni – Via Malpighi 12
Just steps from Casa Galimberti, this residence features stucco decorations, delicate floral reliefs, and sinuous wrought iron balconies. It’s another Bossi creation and an essential stop on a Liberty style walking tour.
Palazzo Castiglioni – Corso Venezia 47
Built by Giuseppe Sommaruga in 1903, this mansion sparked controversy for its daring statues (later removed), but today stands as one of the boldest examples of Liberty style architecture in Milan. It now serves as the headquarters of Milan’s trade union association, but guided tours are sometimes available during open house events.
Acquario Civico – Viale Gadio 2
Acquario Civico Milano / Photo C. Abernethy MilanoStyle.com
Built for the 1906 Milan International Exhibition, the Civic Aquarium of Milan is a Liberty gem with marine-themed ceramics, reliefs, and a grand arch crowned by a statue of Neptune. One of the few surviving structures from the exposition, it remains a charming destination for families and architecture lovers alike.
Villa Romeo Faccanoni – Via Michelangelo Buonarroti 48
Another masterpiece by Sommaruga, now home to the Clinica Columbus. Its floral gates, sculpted stone details, and mosaics offer a theatrical experience of Milanese Liberty architecture.
Hotel Château Monfort – Corso Concordia 1
This 5-star hotel is a fantasy of whimsical décor, pastel tones, and romantic motifs—all rooted in early 20th-century design. While it’s been modernized, original Liberty style features remain intact and tastefully highlighted.
Cimitero Monumentale
Milan’s grand cemetery is not only a resting place but a veritable open-air museum. Among its many tombs, you’ll find magnificent Liberty-style sculptures and family mausoleums, often designed by Milan’s top architects and sculptors of the early 1900s.
Where to See Liberty Decorative Arts and Art Nouveau Artworks in Milan
GAM – Galleria d’Arte Moderna – Via Palestro 16
Set in the opulent Villa Reale, GAM showcases a superb collection of 19th and early 20th-century artworks, including paintings and decorative pieces from the Liberty and Symbolist movements. Look for works by Giovanni Segantini, Gaetano Previati, and Mosè Bianchi.
Museo Poldi Pezzoli – Via Manzoni 12
While this museum is best known for its Renaissance art, it also houses exceptional examples of Liberty style ceramics, glassware, and textiles. It’s a refined and often quiet place to contemplate Milan’s rich artistic heritage.
Museo del Novecento – Piazza del Duomo
Dedicated to 20th-century art, the Museo del Novecento includes works from the transitional period between Symbolism and early modernism. Artworks by Giulio Aristide Sartorio and others evoke the dreamlike, decorative world of Art Nouveau.
Villa Necchi Campiglio – Via Mozart 14
Managed by the FAI (Italian National Trust), this historic villa is a glimpse into the life of Milanese aristocracy. While built slightly after the Liberty period, its interiors reveal the lasting influence of Art Nouveau and Art Deco in design and lifestyle.
Why Liberty Style Matters in Milan
Unlike the dramatic displays of Art Nouveau seen in Paris or Brussels, Liberty style in Milan is often more discreet—woven into decorative railings, hidden in ceramic tiles, or blooming in sculpted floral motifs. But it is precisely this elegance and subtlety that defines the Milanese approach to art and architecture.
Whether you’re admiring the organic lines of a private villa or viewing a delicate piece of Liberty glassware in a museum, Milan invites you to look closer. This is a city where beauty often lies in the details—and Liberty style is the perfect reminder of that.
Planning a trip to discover architecture in Milan?
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