Casa Galimberti is a Liberty-style apartment building at the corner of Via Marcello Malpighi and Via Sirtori in Milan’s Porta Venezia area. Designed by Giovanni Battista Bossi between 1903 and 1905, its façade combines painted ceramic tiles, wrought-iron balconies and floral concrete details. Look closely at the majolica panels: they show floral displays and Art Nouveau figures against a gilded background. The exterior can be admired without an admission fee, and Casa Guazzoni is nearby for a second example of Milanese Liberty architecture.
A Milanese Liberty façade
Casa Galimberti stands on the corner of Via Marcello Malpighi and Via Sirtori in the Porta Venezia area. Architect Giovanni Battista Bossi designed the building between 1903 and 1905. It is an example of Milanese Liberty, the Italian version of Art Nouveau.
The exterior brings together painted ceramic tiles, wrought iron and concrete ornament. Floral motifs appear in the concrete details and ironwork, while the balconies add another layer to the façade. Much of the exterior is covered in majolica panels, so take time to look at the building as a whole and then examine the decoration more closely.
The majolica panels
The ceramic panels are the main draw. They depict floral displays and Art Nouveau figures, including women in decorative poses, against a gilded background. Their colors and imagery set the building apart from a plain apartment façade and make the exterior worth a slow look from the street.
Casa Galimberti is a private apartment building, so the visit centers on its exterior. There is no fee to admire it from outside. For more Liberty architecture, Casa Guazzoni is nearby; the surrounding streets also contain other buildings in the style.
Getting to Via Malpighi
From Porta Venezia, take metro line M1 and walk to Via Malpighi. Tram 9 also serves the area. Casa Galimberti and Casa Guazzoni make a convenient pair for an architecture walk through this part of Milan.
FAQ
Where is Casa Galimberti?
It is at Via Marcello Malpighi, 3, on the corner of Via Malpighi and Via Sirtori in Milan’s Porta Venezia area.
Can you go inside Casa Galimberti?
The visit is to the exterior of this apartment building. You can admire the façade from the street without an admission fee.
How do you get to Casa Galimberti?
Take metro line M1 to Porta Venezia and walk to Via Malpighi. Tram 9 is another option.
What should I look for at Casa Galimberti?
Look for the colorful majolica panels, floral concrete details and wrought-iron balconies. The ceramic panels depict floral displays and Art Nouveau figures.
