Milan Unveils a Expanded Art Hub with the Opening of Palazzo Citterio
After more than five decades in the making, Milan has inaugurated a stunning addition to its cultural landscape: Palazzo Citterio, a beautifully restored 19th-century palazzo that now houses a significant trove of 20th-century Italian art. This long-awaited opening completes the vision for a "Grande Brera," a powerful cultural hub encompassing the Pinacoteca di Brera (the Pinacoteca), the Braidense National Library, and now, Palazzo Citterio.
The inauguration of Palazzo Citterio on December 7th, the feast day of Milan’s patron saint, St. Ambrose, marks a major milestone for the city’s artistic scene. Director Angelo Crespi, appointed to lead the Brera in January, prioritized completing this project after decades of delays due to shifting priorities, periods of neglect, and a recently-abandoned architectural plan.
"There was awareness that it needed to be opened. The question was not just economic, but also ethical. After 52 years, we couldn’t keep such a beautiful building closed simply because of inertia," Crespi stated, emphasizing the urgency he felt to finally bring Palazzo Citterio to life.
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Just days before the public opening, Crespi led a flurry of activity as teams worked to install the final artworks. Yet, he stood firm against calls to postpone from his own staff, believing that the moment had arrived. "Otherwise, we could have entered in a new loop, with more years of other ideas, other projects. It is the right moment and we need to do it,” he said confidently.
A Unified Artistic Powerhouse
The integration of Palazzo Citterio, alongside the "Last Supper" (permanently housed in a fragile, historic church complex a kilometer away), places Milan’s artistic offerings among the most prestigious in Italy. The state-run institutions collectively draw an impressive one million visitors annually, generating over 10 million euros (approximate $10.5 million) – securing their position within the top 10 most-visited sites in the country. Director Crespi aims to leverage this enhanced visibility to promote the lesser-known gems within the Brera complex, including the Academy of Fine Arts, the tranquil botanical gardens, an observatory, and – highlighting Art Nouveau architecture. He also seeks to position Milan, a city renowned for fashion and finance, as a formidable center for the arts, rivaling the established Tuscan giants of Florence, Rome, and Venice.
“All of the biggest masterpieces and names who made Italian art great over the centuries are concentrated within a few hundred meters," Crespi asserts, pointing out Milan’s artistic density and potential.
Palazzo Citterio: A Journey Through Modern Italian Art
Accessing Palazzo Citterio, just a short walk from the Pinacoteca, will become even simpler come spring when a charming passageway through the botanical gardens opens. Visitors entering Palazzo Citterio are greeted by Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo’s monumental late 19th-century painting "Human Flood". The work serves as a bridge, linking the Pinacoteca’s rich collection of Italian Renaissance and Baroque art – acquired during Napoleon’s reign – with the modern masterpieces housed in Palazzo Citterio.
Highlighting the depth and diversity of Italian 20th-century artists, the collection within Palazzo Citterio features hundreds of artworks donated to the Brera decades ago by two leading art collectors, Stefano Jesi and Lamberto Vitali.
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How does the addition of Palazzo Citterio to the “Grande Brera” elevate Milan’s position in the global art world?
## Milan Celebrates Grand Opening of Palazzo Citterio
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re talking about the exciting expansion of Milan’s art scene with the long-awaited opening of Palazzo Citterio. With us today is Angelo Crespi, the Director of the Pinacoteca di Brera, who spearheaded this ambitious project. Welcome, Angelo.
**Angelo Crespi:** Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer:** Palazzo Citterio has been in the making for over five decades. What was it like finally bringing this project to fruition?
**Crespi:** It was a tremendous undertaking, fraught with challenges and delays over the years. But there was always this sense of urgency, a feeling that we couldn’t keep such a magnificent building closed indefinitely. [ [1](https://www.indulgexpress.com/ampstories/culture/art/2024/Dec/08/breras-transformation-complete-discover-milans-new-art-hub-palazzo-citterio) ]
**Interviewer:** You took over as director of the Brera earlier this year, and immediately prioritized completing this project. What motivated that decision?
**Crespi:** It was both an economic and ethical imperative. Milan deserves a vibrant and complete cultural hub, and Palazzo Citterio, filled with its collection of 20th-century Italian art, is a crucial piece of that puzzle. It’s a symbol of commitment to the arts and to our city’s heritage.
**Interviewer:** I hear there was a push to postpone the opening from within your team?
**Crespi:** There was certainly some apprehension. We were working right down to the wire to get everything ready. But I firmly believed the time was now. We could have easily fallen into another cycle of delays and missed opportunities.
**Interviewer:** The opening coincides with the feast day of St. Ambrose, Milan’s patron saint. Was that intentional?
**Crespi:** Absolutely. It felt fitting to unveil this new cultural gem on such a significant day for our city. It’s a moment for Milan to celebrate its artistic legacy and look towards a bright future.
**Interviewer:** How does this addition to the “Grande Brera,” which already includes the Pinacoteca and the Braidense National Library, elevate Milan’s position in the global art world?
**Crespi:** The “Grande Brera” now presents a unparalleled and unified artistic experience, rivaling any cultural center in the world. With Palazzo Citterio, we are not only expanding Milan’s collection but also creating a destination that will attract art enthusiasts from across the globe.
**Interviewer:** Thank you so much for your time, Angelo. This is truly an exciting time for Milan and its art lovers.
**Crespi:** It’s a pleasure. I hope everyone gets a chance to experience the beauty of Palazzo Ctterio and the “Grande Brera.”
