Beatrice Spolidoro: Two houses in Milan

Spring is almost here even in Milan... Perfect season to enjoy the city!

Today I give you two good addresses to spent time in very elegant Milanese houses.
Almost all the European cities have an "époque house" to visit, containing old furniture following a precise style. Most of them were the native homes of great writers or scientists, so you can find even their personal objects.
In Milan you can see something different but I think definitely more interesting: the houses I'm going to present you were private until few years ago and when the dwellers died, they donated both to the Italian cultural heritage.

* First address, Via Mozart 14, Milan.
In a very central position, very close to our famous golden quadrilateral, you can find Villa Necchi Campiglio. They have a precise timetable so please check the website.
Here you'll see a big rationalist Villa, with garden, made by the Architect Piero Portaluppi between 1932 and 1935. Angelo Campiglio and Gigina Necchi lived there with Gigina's sister Nedda. It was a rich family interested in industry and the Villa reflects the wise choices of Portaluppi (elegant furniture designed by himself, simple decorations, rich materials) but also the classical ones by the other involved Architect Tomaso Buzzi.

(Villa Necchi Campiglio - The pool in the flowered garden)

The Villa is filled with original furniture and object of the family (Nedda lived there and died in 2001) and the rooms left empty were furnished again with suitable furniture. The restoration of the house lasted from the 2001 until the 2008, thanks to the effort of FAI Fondo Ambientale Italiano.

Visiting this Villa is a big opportunity to see the best Italian design before the "Vespa era", when the Dolcevita was still something of culturally deep.
You'll have to follow the guided tour, very well done, that explains you also the Claudia Gian Ferrari Collections that gives even more value to the spaces.

* The other address is Via Jan 15, near Corso Buenos Aires, Casa Boschi-Di Stefano.

If you are tired of shopping in the chaotic street, take a break visiting (free entrance!) the flat where Mr Boschi and Mrs De Stefano lived collecting hundreds of paintings from the best master of the XXth century. Rumors say the furniture was almost nothing, since they had to keep in their house so many paintings that some had to lay on the floor! You'll visited 10 rooms, with very kind volunteers by the Touring Club, that will be very happy to explain you everything about the paintings and the owners. The house guests around 300 paintings, out of more than 2000 owned by this couple.

The architect was again Piero Portaluppi and you'll be able to appreciate his work starting from outside, from the street.
The furniture in the house is not original, but reasonable and original of the '30s.
Special mention to the bathroom, with black marble, containing paintings even there.

As usual, I can just say please visit, visit and visit again!