Regina Arriola’s Travel Diary: The Heart Of Milan Is At Villa Necchi

Milan is the kind of city where buildings crowd the narrow streets, markets are on every corner, and a sense of old world authenticity fills the air. Amongst all of this, in the heart of the city, is a historical home-turned-museum called the Villa Necchi. With a tennis court, swimming pool, and garden, Villa Necchi is a discreet gem in the bustling city.

Villa Necchi was built and designed by the Milanese architect Piero Portaluppi in 1932, and was later remolded in the 1950’s. Today the home is kept intact, remaining exactly as it was in the 30s and 50s. The home is considered a trademark for the people of Milan, their history, and their culture. The home is ornate, rich in texture, and luxurious. Some of the features of the home include large rosewood pocket doors, diamond shaped ceilings, and rooms made of marble from floor to ceiling. The Villa Necchi was home to a prestigious Italian couple, Gigina and Angelo Campigero, and Gigina’s sister, Nedda Necchi. Gigina was the last of the three to live in the home, until she passed in 2001 at the age of 99. The sisters were very close and lived together their entire lives. The wardrobes of Nedda and Gigina were an impressive collection of the finest designer clothing. Some of the pieces kept from it include a custom-made crocodile skin toiletries case from Christian Dior, Chanel suits, Hermes handbags, and a gallery of different hats. The Villa Necchi is modern, even at today’s standards, but remains a strong cultural representation for Italians.

[images sourced from case museo milano]

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