Palazzo Marino Palace, Milan - Centre

Milan's city hall, located in a 16th-century palace

featured in Sights & Sites

Palazzo Marino has been the home of Milan's town council since 1861. Located in La Scala square, the palace was designed by architect Galeazzo Alessi, from Perugia, in 1558.

Construction was interrupted in 1570, when Alessi left, and it was not finished until the end 19th century, under the direction of Luca Beltrami. Inside, there is a courtyard with Renaissance statues, and the rooms are decorated with frescoes and bas-reliefs.

The building is named after Tommaso Marino, a rich Genoan merchant who commissioned the palace to make it his private home, although he died in bankruptcy. This palace was met with the opposition of the Milanese people when it was being built, who deemed it too ostentatious.

It became public property in 1781, when it was restored. It was struck by the Napoleonic wars and the Second World War, but it has kept in pretty good shape and you can now visit some of its most impressive rooms.