Palazzo dei Giureconsulti
Encyclopedia
The Giureconsulti Palace (in Italian
: Palazzo dei Giureconsulti), also known as Palazzo Affari ai Giureconsulti or simply Palazzo Affari, is a 16th century building of Milan
, Italy
. It is located in Piazza Mercanti
, former city centre in the Middle Ages
.
The construction of the palace began in 1562 on a design by architect Vincenzo Seregni. The palace replaced an older one (dating back to the 13th century), which was demolished; a pre-existing tower was preserved and adapted to the new architecture as a clock tower
. The overall style of the building and its decoration is Manneristic
.
The building originally serverd as the seat of the Collegio dei Nobili Dottori ("College of the Noble Doctors"), a school for aspiring politicians and lawyers. After the 18th century it was used for other functions, including as a stock exchange
, as the seat of the telegraph company, as the seat of the Popolare di Milano
bank, and finally as the seat of the Chamber of Commerce
(from 1911). Today, the building is still the property of the Chamber of Commerce.
The palace was severely damaged by the bombings of World War II
but was thoroughly restored in the 1980s by Gianni Mezzanotte, who is also responsible for the design of Palazzo Mezzanotte
, the main building of Piazza Affari (the seat of the Italian stock exchange, located in the same district). During this restoration, the palace was enhanced with hi-tech equipments, such as modern communication lines and multimedia appliances, to create a prestigious multi-functional venue to accommodate events, conferences, and such. It was at this time that the new denomination of "Palazzo Affari" was adopted, although the Palace is still largely known by its former name.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
: Palazzo dei Giureconsulti), also known as Palazzo Affari ai Giureconsulti or simply Palazzo Affari, is a 16th century building of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is located in Piazza Mercanti
Piazza Mercanti
Piazza Mercanti is a central city square of Milan, Italy. It is located between Piazza del Duomo, which marks the centre of the modern city of Milan, and Piazza Cordusio, and it used to be the heart of the city in the Middle Ages...
, former city centre in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.
The construction of the palace began in 1562 on a design by architect Vincenzo Seregni. The palace replaced an older one (dating back to the 13th century), which was demolished; a pre-existing tower was preserved and adapted to the new architecture as a clock tower
Clock tower
A clock tower is a tower specifically built with one or more clock faces. Clock towers can be either freestanding or part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall. Some clock towers are not true clock towers having had their clock faces added to an already existing building...
. The overall style of the building and its decoration is Manneristic
Mannerism
Mannerism is a period of European art that emerged from the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520. It lasted until about 1580 in Italy, when a more Baroque style began to replace it, but Northern Mannerism continued into the early 17th century throughout much of Europe...
.
The building originally serverd as the seat of the Collegio dei Nobili Dottori ("College of the Noble Doctors"), a school for aspiring politicians and lawyers. After the 18th century it was used for other functions, including as a stock exchange
Stock exchange
A stock exchange is an entity that provides services for stock brokers and traders to trade stocks, bonds, and other securities. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for issue and redemption of securities and other financial instruments, and capital events including the payment of income and...
, as the seat of the telegraph company, as the seat of the Popolare di Milano
Banca Popolare di Milano
-History:The second cooperative bank in Italy , it was founded in 1865 in Milan by Luigi Luzzatti, who later served as the nation's Prime Minister...
bank, and finally as the seat of the Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
(from 1911). Today, the building is still the property of the Chamber of Commerce.
The palace was severely damaged by the bombings of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
but was thoroughly restored in the 1980s by Gianni Mezzanotte, who is also responsible for the design of Palazzo Mezzanotte
Palazzo Mezzanotte
Palazzo Mezzanotte , also known as Palazzo delle Borse is a 20th century building of Milan, Italy, and the seat of the Italian stock exchange. It is located in Piazza Affari , the city square after which the Italian stock exchange itself is nicknamed...
, the main building of Piazza Affari (the seat of the Italian stock exchange, located in the same district). During this restoration, the palace was enhanced with hi-tech equipments, such as modern communication lines and multimedia appliances, to create a prestigious multi-functional venue to accommodate events, conferences, and such. It was at this time that the new denomination of "Palazzo Affari" was adopted, although the Palace is still largely known by its former name.