Casa Galimberti – Art Nouveau Building in Milan, Italy
Located in the heart of Milan’s Porta Venezia district—one of the city’s most architecturally rich neighborhoods—Casa Galimberti stands as one of the most flamboyant and iconic examples of Italian Art Nouveau, or Stile Liberty, as it was locally known.
What immediately distinguishes Casa Galimberti is its lushly decorative façade, which is a masterclass in polychrome ceramics and wrought ironwork. The entire front is covered in enamelled majolica tiles. These tiles feature vivid depictions of floral, mythological figures, and women—often portrayed in flowing garments, suggesting movement and sensuality in true Art Nouveau fashion.
Another highlight is the intricate wrought-iron balconies, which wind and curl with floral and organic motifs. These iron railings don’t merely follow a structural function but serve as sculptural elements in their own right. Though it follows the typical layout of an urban residential block, the building's surface is almost completely overtaken by its decorative program. The bay windows, carved stone elements, and sinuous window frames all interact rhythmically, creating a dynamic visual narrative across the façade.
Today, Casa Galimberti remains a protected heritage site and is admired by architects, artists, and visitors for its opulence, creativity, and artistic integration.