Palazzo Marino opens the first Sunday of the month: free visits from March 1st.

Starting March 1st, Palazzo Marino will also be open to visitors on the first Sunday of each month, thanks to a collaboration with the Bracco Foundation . The historic municipal building will officially participate in "Sunday at the Museum," a national initiative promoted by the Ministry of Culture that allows free admission to state and civic cultural sites.

The extension of opening hours represents a significant step towards greater accessibility to Milan's architectural and institutional heritage, offering residents and tourists an additional opportunity to explore one of the city's iconic buildings.

A new chapter for Sunday at the Museum Milano

Until now, Palazzo Marino was open to visitors Monday through Friday and on Republic Day. By joining the "Sunday at the Museum" program, the sixteenth-century palace joins the other civic and state museums already participating in the ministerial initiative, strengthening the city's cultural network and its inclusive mission.

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The collaboration with the Bracco Foundation also consolidates the public-private partnership model , increasingly central to the promotion of Italy's cultural heritage. This alliance aims to make institutional spaces of high historical and artistic value accessible, usually inaccessible to the public on weekends.

A journey through art, architecture, and civic history

Tours, by reservation only, will be led by professional guides trained by Civita Mostre e Musei , a company specializing in promoting Italy's cultural heritage. The tour, lasting approximately 75 minutes, will guide participants through the building's most significant spaces.

Designed in the 16th century by architect Galeazzo Alessi as the private residence of the wealthy merchant Tommaso Marino , the palace became the seat of the municipal administration on September 19, 1861, a few months after the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy. The exhibition connects the original architectural design, the artistic decorations, and the civic function it developed over the centuries, recounting the evolution of a building that today is a symbol of Milan's political and institutional life.

The reception rooms and symbolic places

Visitors will be able to access highly valuable spaces not normally open to the public, including the Courtyard and Loggia d'Onore, the monumental Sala Alessi, and the City Council Chamber, the hub of the city's institutional activity.

Particularly evocative is the Sala Marra, located in the oldest part of the complex. According to tradition, it was here that Marianna de Leyva, the famous Gertrude—the Nun of Monza—a key character in Alessandro Manzoni 's The Betrothed, was born . This intertwining of history and literature reinforces the palace's identity within the Lombard cultural landscape.

From War to Rebirth: The Memory of a Symbolic Building

Over the course of its long history, Palazzo Marino has gone through dramatic moments, in particular during the bombings of 1944 which hit it hard. MilanoThe building, damaged but not destroyed, was restored and returned to the city, becoming a concrete testimony of the urban rebirth in the post-war period.

Mayor Giuseppe Sala emphasized that the building is not just the seat of the mayor, but "the home of all Milanese," a place where the city's history is intertwined with that of its protagonists. The Sunday opening, made possible by the support of the Bracco Foundation, expands the visitor base, allowing even those who work during the week to access guided tours.

Culture and accessibility: the role of the Bracco Foundation

President Diana Bracco emphasized the importance of supporting initiatives that foster cultural participation and accessibility. The Foundation thus confirms its mission: promoting knowledge as a driver of development and social cohesion, strengthening the connection between citizens, institutions, and urban identity.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance Milan's heritage, where culture becomes a strategic lever for collective well-being and increasing the city's tourist appeal.

How to book visits to Palazzo Marino

Tours are free, but reservations are required via the dedicated link . A valid ID will be required at the entrance. Tours last 75 minutes, departing every 30 minutes from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM on the first Sunday of the month.

With this extraordinary opening, Palazzo Marino fully enters the ranks of the symbolic places of Milan's Sunday at the Museum, offering an experience that unites art, history, and institutions in one of the most representative buildings of the Lombard Renaissance.