Senate Palace

The Senate Palace of Milan, located in Via Senato, represents one of the most significant examples of Baroque architecture in the city. Its construction began in 1608, on the initiative of Cardinal Federico Borromeo, who wanted to erect the Collegio Elvetico on the ruins of an ancient monastery. The building was initially designed by Fabio Mangone and later completed by Francesco Maria Richini. The Collegio Elvetico was established to accommodate students from Swiss territories belonging to the diocese of Milan, preparing them for the role of parish priests in territories influenced by the Protestant Reformation, such as Valtellina and the Grisons. The construction underwent various interruptions, including a significant one during the plague of 1630, which took Mangone himself. With the advent of Joseph II of Habsburg in 1786, the Collegio Elvetico was suppressed and the building became the seat of the Supreme Council of Government. During the Napoleonic occupation, the building housed the Lower Chamber of the Cisalpine Republic and later served as the Palace of the Senate of the Kingdom of Italy. It was during this period that the building acquired the name by which it is known today. After the fall of Napoleon and the return of the Austrians, the palace became the seat of the Chancellery of the Austrian Imperial Army and, in 1817, of the State Accounting Office. This function continued until 1859, when, with the Unification of Italy, the building was destined to house the State Archives of Milan. The transfer of the archives, which began in 1873, was completed in 1886 under the direction of Cesare Cantù. The Senate Palace suffered serious damage during the bombings of World War II, which destroyed part of the building and some archival funds. After the war, the palace was rebuilt, with interventions that lasted until the 1950s. Architecturally, the Senate Palace is distinguished by its elliptical facade, decorated with windows with triangular and curved pediments. Inside, there are two large courtyards, characterized by a double order of architraved loggias, a rare solution in the panorama of Milanese palaces of the time. On the left side of the building there was a church, whose original layout can only be reconstructed through ancient surveys, as it was modified in the following centuries. Currently, the volume occupied by the church houses the conference room of the State Archives of Milan. From a historical point of view, the Senate Palace has been a crucial place for the political and administrative events of Milan. From its initial function as a religious college to that of a government seat during the Napoleonic occupation, to its current destination as a State Archive, the building has always played a central role in the life of the city. The transformation of the palace through the centuries reflects the historical and political vicissitudes of Milan, moving from a religious to a secular and administrative function. Its Baroque architecture, with its elegant decorations and innovative solutions, represents an example of how art can serve power and institutional representation. Today, the Senate Palace is a place of great cultural and historical importance, where precious documents are preserved that tell the history of Milan and Lombardy. Its architectural beauty and the richness of its decorations continue to enchant visitors, offering a fascinating glimpse into the city’s past.