Milan never ceases to amaze. Apart from the popular parks and gardens, there are plenty of hidden corners where spring shines in all its beauty 🌺
Among these hidden spots there is Niccolò Tommaseo Square, located between via Mascheroni and via XX Settembre. The square was opened in 1893 but it was the last trees replanting in 2017 that made this place so special. This particular hybrid specie of magnolia, Magnolia Soulangeana, created by an officer of Napoleon’s cavalry, flowers early compared to other plants. So from the middle of March to the very beginning of April the combination of pink violet flowers and the surrounding buildings creates romantic and delicate compositions that all Milanese run to immortalize with a photo.
Myself included 🙂
The wonderful buildings dated back to early XX century and are decorated in liberty style. The neighborhood, build between the end of 19th and early 20th centuries, conceals villas of unexpected elegance belonging to entrepreneurs and milanese bourgeoisie. The Magenta district is the area of Milan where the Liberty – the floral Italian variant of French Art Nouveau – has shown the most expressive and decorative variety.
The most prominent architects of the time created wonderful residences, such as the splendid Villino Maria Luisa in Via Tamburini n.8, a detached house covered with blue and gold mosaics and with beautiful wrought iron gate realized by Alessandro Mazzucotelli; Casa Donzelli in Via Torquato Tasso n.8, a historic building from 1913 designed in Liberty style by the architect Enrico Zanoni, whose the low arch portal is surmounted by a balcony decorated with wrought-iron floral motifs.
Walking down Via Ariosto, you can admire a single row of Liberty buildings. At number 21 there is Casa Cavalli Agostoni (1908) by Alfredo Menni with bas-relief decoration depicting the Four Seasons.
Keep walking until Casa Laugier. Dating back to 1905, it has oriental-looking lion heads and an exceptional decorative profusion. In this area, the Farmacia Santa Teresa is also worth a visit, it is one of the oldest pharmacies in Milan that preserved historic furnishings and decorations.
At Tommaseo Square there are, as well as buildings of inestimable value, the Institute of the Marcellines and the Church of Santa Maria Segreta.
If you happen to pass by… it is definitely worth stopping 😉
