Visiting the Museum of the 20th Century
Piazza del Duomo is where you find the city's greatest masterpieces. As the grand urban core of Milan, it serves as the natural home for the Palazzo dell'Arengario. This massive complex, designed by Griffini Muzio in the 1930s, has housed the Museum of the 20th Century since 2010. The galleries showcase artistic movements from across the 20th century. As a premier site for contemporary work, it also holds the Portrait of Paul Guillaume by Modigliani, the only painting by the artist remaining in Italy. If you are looking for a reason to visit, this piece alone justifies the trip.
A spiral staircase through the history of art
The building is vast, with 400 works displayed in rooms arranged around a spectacular elliptical staircase that climbs toward a panoramic terrace offering a commanding view of the square below. This winding, chronological path through contemporary art is impressive for its unconventional flow. The avant-garde collection includes significant international figures such as Picasso, Paul Klee, Kandinsky, and the aforementioned Modigliani. The levels continue with the giants of Futurism. Boccioni, Balla, and Gino Severini are just a few of the artists featured in this space, which leads into the 1920s and 1930s. You will find a dedicated room for Marino Marini, while the third floor focuses on Alberto Burri. Major Italian masters of the informal art movement like Tancredi or Carla Accardi precede the exhibits from the 1950s and 1960s. The top level belongs to Lucio Fontana and his peers. The master of monochrome manipulation and founder of Spatialism leads the way to a suspended walkway that connects the museum to a final space dedicated to cinema, conceptual art, and the 1970s and 1980s. The experience concludes with Luciano Fabro and other late-century creators who finish the tour of this remarkable and deeply engaging site.
This museum will really appeal to contemporary art fans. It has rich and varied collections, including works by Picasso. It is a beautiful museum with a central location that is housed in a well-preserved building. Worth doing if you have the time.