The Villa Reale (Royal Villa) is home to two of Milan’s most visitedgalleries and a tranquil English garden. It was built in the 1790s and was oncethe lavish residence of an Italian count. The villa was designed in the neoclassicalstyle by the Austrian-Italian architect Leopoldo Pollack. Visit on a sunny dayto stroll through its beautiful gardens, admire the architecture or see some ofItaly’s best-known modern and contemporary art.
Enter the villa from Via Palestro to reach the first of thetwo galleries on-site. The Modern Art Gallery features work from across Europedating between the 18th and 20th centuries. See famous works by Vincent VanGogh, Picasso and Giovanni Fattori.
Continue through the complex to reach Milan’s premiercontemporary art gallery, the Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea (ContemporaryArts Pavilion). As the only museum in Milan dedicated to temporary exhibitionsof contemporary art, the Padiglione is world-renowned. See painting, sculpture,photography and video work from international artists. Visit the Padiglione’swebsite for exhibition details.
Take a walk through the sprawling gardens that surround the villa. Thisis the best place to observe the architecture of the villa and is a picturesquelocation for photographs. Relax on the grass at one of the most tranquil parksin the city, a favorite among locals. A large pond is home to families of ducks. Stop at the café by the pond’s edge for a chance to refuelbefore heading into the villa. Go back inside to see original frescos andsculptures spread throughout 600 rooms.
The Villa Reale is located in central Milan and is bestreached by metro. Arrive by car and park on the streets that line the gardens.The villa is open daily and there is no general admission for entry, although thegalleries are subject to a charge.
