The Royal Palace
This point of interest is available as audio on the tour: Visit Milan, Secrets and Treasures of the Lombard Capital
You’re now looking at the Royal Palace, built on the orders of Maria Theresa of Austria, back when the Duchy of Milan was under Habsburg rule. The duchy remained an Austrian possession until Napoleon’s conquest in 1796, when Milan became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy and the palace served as the residence of the viceroy, none other than Napoleon I’s adopted son.
When the Emperor fell, the kingdom he had created in 1805 collapsed with him, giving way to the Kingdom of Lombardy, Venetia, part of the Austrian Empire. Milan became one of its two capitals, alongside Venice, and the palace housed the seat of the viceroyalty.
In the 19th century, it was transformed into a museum, and today it hosts major exhibitions on loan from some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, making it one of Milan’s leading cultural landmarks. Listed as an Italian cultural heritage site, the palace is open to visitors, with ticket prices depending on the current exhibition.
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