Villa Necchi Campiglio
An icon of ’30s deco in the heart of Milan
A villa surrounded by a peaceful garden in the heart of the Lombard capital, housing sensational works of art, where you can still immerse yourself in the glamorous world of Milan’s interwar years.
Villa donated to FAI by Gigina Necchi Campiglio and Nedda Necchi in 2001. Alighiero and Emilietta de’ Micheli collection donated to FAI in 1995. Claudia Gian Ferrari collection donated to FAI in 2009.
Secluded in the heart of an elegant, peaceful part of central Milan, Villa Necchi Campiglio was designed in the early 1930s by the architect Piero Portaluppi at the behest of sisters Nedda and Gigina Necchi and Gigina’s husband Angelo Campiglio, who embodied the cultured Lombard upper-middle class and were very much in synch with their time.
The building, nestling in an enchanted garden complete with tennis court and swimming pool (amongst the earliest such facilities in a domestic context in Milan), is characterised by generously proportioned, linear volumes; while the first floor served as a prestigious reception area, with the magnificent veranda overlooking the greenery, the upper floor played host to the bedrooms. These spaces were conceived for people who were hard-working but also capable of savouring their free time in the company of guests and friends, even in ways that were rather unconventional for that period – this explains the presence of the screening room and the gymnasium. Here, innovation was translated into both comfort and efficiency, as evinced by the lifts, dumbwaiters, internal intercoms, reinforced sliding doors and walled cellars. All of these luxurious, modern features made the villa one of the iconic residences of the period.
The splendour of the deco furnishings, the everyday items and the important artworks has been embellished of late by the bequest of the de’ Micheli and Gian Ferrari collections, which contain works by such major names as Tiepolo, Canaletto, Sironi, De Chirico, Martini and Wildt. Since November 2017, the villa has also been blessed with the 21 works on paper from the Collection of Guido Sforni (1935-1975), including pieces by such 20th-century masters as Picasso, Fontana, Modigliani and Matisse, amongst others.
The villa is today open to all, thus respecting the wishes of the Necchi sisters, who in 2001 entrusted the residence to FAI on the proviso that it would be transformed into a place to enjoy and to visit time and again, thanks also to the delightful garden, the numerous scheduled events and the stylish bistro concealed within the grounds.
The Villa is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-6pm. Last entry 5 pm
Seasonal closures: 24th, 25th, 31th December, 1st January, 9th to 13th January
Prior booking is recommended: tel. (+39) 0276340121, e-mail fainecchi@fondoambiente.it
The only visits available are guided tours. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 15 people. The tour lasts around 1 hour.
On particularly busy days, for reasons of conservation, it may not be possible for everyone to be given access to the Sforni Collection. If you retain your ticket, though, you may be able to access the collection on a different day.
By underground
MM1 Palestro: 5 minutes on foot
MM1 San Babila: 10 minutes on foot
MM3 Montenapoleone: 15 minutes on foot
By bus
Scheduled bus nos. 54 – 61 – 94: San Damiano – Monforte stop.
For timetables and info, visit www.atm-mi.it
By train
On Trenord trains: from Milano Cadorna station, line MM1, Palestro station. For the train timetables, visit the Trenord website.
20% discount on the cost of the entry ticket for holders of a valid ITINERO or IOVIAGGIO card.
10% discount on the cost of the entry ticket for holders of a normal Trenord ticket validated on the day of the visit with the destination being the area in which the FAI property is located, served by Trenord trains. Specifically: Milan.
- FAI members: free entry*
- Adults: € 12
- Reduced (aged 6-18): €4
- Children aged 0-5: free entry
- Students aged 25 or under: €5
- National Trust members*, those with disabilities + 1 companion: free entry
- Family: €25. Allows entry at reduced rates for family groups composed of 2 adults and 2 children (6-18 years of age). Free entry for any additional children in the family group.
*with the exception of specific events, when the additional event charge will apply.
During events the price may be subject to change.
Guided tours are available for groups and special visits. Prior booking is required:
- Guided tour in Italian: €90
- Visit in languages other than Italian: €100
For information and bookings: segreterianecchi@fondoambiente.it
Guided tours are available for school groups. For information: www.faiscuola.it
All the purchases made in our bookshops help to support FAI’s mission
Dogs on the leash are permitted in the garden but not inside the villa.
Please leave pushchairs/strollers at the entrance to the villa.
Disabled visitors can access free-of-charge those FAI properties that are open to the public by showing their ANMIC (Associazione Nazionale Mutilati e Invalidi Civili) card.
Villa Necchi Campiglio is accessible to deaf visitors and those with learning difficulties thanks to the "Sentire l'arte" and "Bene FAI per tutti" projects.
