Il complesso di Brera BRERA PALACE by Stefano Zuffi, art historian, cultural manager with Associazione Amici di Brera and president of the Associazione Amici del Poldi Pezzoli
A maze of winding, cobbled streets, historic buildings and secluded gardens; the lingering presence of great writers, internationally renowned artists, and brilliant students; the rich atmosphere of the home to the Brera Pinacoteca and Academy, and other historic cultural institutions: the Brera district is undeniably one of Milan’s most enchanting. Two jewels of gothic architecture stand nearby – the churches of Santa Maria del Carmine and San Marco. But the district also has an alluring outdoor quality that inspires you to stroll along its narrow streets, passing by many restaurants with outdoor seating, refined and unique fashion boutiques, antique shops, and stores specialized in the fine arts, discovering a host of delightful hidden corners. Via Brera is lined with elegant 18th-century noble palazzi. One of them will soon become an extension for the Pinacoteca, which is always looking for new spaces to host temporary exhibitions and offer even mores services to the public. Already incorporated into the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, the brick apse of the deconsecrated church of San Carpoforo stands directly opposite the Pinacoteca entrance. The church hosts exhibitions and performances by Academy students. You may also treat yourself to a soothing pause in the small but delightful Botanical Garden, with access via Palazzo Brera or from Via Fratelli Gabba. Dating to the 18th century, the garden was reopened to the public a few years ago and offers a delightfully peaceful setting within Milan’s densely urbanized historical centre. It also offers a view of the metallic dome of the coeval Observatory, which contains a collection of historical scientific instruments. Magnificent Palazzo Brera is clearly the district’s centre of gravity. Its majestic brick and stonework have changed little since the 17th-18th century, when it housed a Jesuit college and was one of the city’s foremost pieces of civilian architecture. The stately entrance portal with its columns is the work of Giuseppe Piermarini, the architect who designed Teatro alla Scala and Palazzo Reale.
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