Villa Necchi Campiglio

Nestled in a lush garden in the heart of Milan, just a 15-minute walk from the Best Western Hotel City, Villa Necchi Campiglio is a splendid historic residence built by architect Piero Portaluppi in the 1930s.

The story goes that Gigina Necchi and Angelo Campiglio, members of the cultured and avant-garde Lombard industrial bourgeoisie, found themselves strolling along Via Mozart one foggy evening on their way back from Milan’s La Scala. At the time, the street was lined with vegetable gardens and gardens — as the nearby Via Vivaio suggests — and they fell in love with it. A few days later, they purchased a plot of land for sale and built their home there.

The villa, designed by Piero Portaluppi, one of the greatest Italian architects of the period, integrates perfectly with the surrounding garden, filled with a variety of plants, from camellias to hellebores, from ferns to hydrangeas, creating a special relationship between interior and exterior. Every window offers a glimpse of the garden’s verdant beauty and nature almost seems to enter the house thanks to the spacious, airy rooms and bright windows, such as the veranda on the mezzanine floor, a veritable winter garden with travertine and green marble flooring.

The furnishings blend the Art Deco and avant-garde styles of the 1930s with the reinterpretation of the rooms by Tomaso Buzzi, who added a touch of eighteenth-century inspiration, creating a balanced and original blend.

Once the house was finished, the couple moved in with her sister, Nedda Necchi, who remained close to the couple throughout their lives. Soon, the villa became the setting for dinners and garden lunches, hosting friends and dignitaries of various rank, including Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy, a friend of the Necchi sisters, who even had a private room on the first floor.
With its swimming pool, tennis court and lush garden, the villa was an oasis of peace and delight in the heart of a rapidly expanding Milan.

Today, almost a century after its construction, the Villa, donated by Gigina to the FAI (Italian Environment Fund), retains a unique charm and atmosphere.

By visiting the rooms of the house, from the reception rooms to the family bedrooms and utility areas, you can experience, supported by the always thorough explanations of FAI volunteers, the history of a family and the liveliness of Milanese life in those years.

Less well-known than the classic tourist itineraries, but an absolutely unmissable stop for entering the heart of a timeless Milan.

In spring, the garden is adorned with buds and, with the bistro and events, becomes a place to visit, experience, and hang out!