Villa Necchi Campiglio

Dear reader,

When M and I arrived in Milan, fresh from the Renaissance-washed streets of Florence, I had one particular thing I wanted to do and that was visiting Villa Necchi Campiglio and meeting the 1930s.

Tucked behind a wall in the so-called “Quiet Quarter” (a name that suits it perfectly), the villa is well-secluded. A garden bursting with greenery, a tennis court, and—my favourite detail—Milan’s first heated swimming pool. It’s a place that makes you want to whisper, even outdoors.

Designed by Piero Portaluppi for the Necchi Campiglio family between 1932 and 1935, and later renovated by Tomaso Buzzi, it’s a lesson in elegance without shouting. It reflects the lifestyle of the Milanese upper class and the modern trends of the time – Italian rationalism and art deco.

Now under the care of Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI), Italy’s answer to a National Trust, the villa is open to the public. I can’t recommend it enough. Take the audio guide, yes. But more than that, talk to the guides. They’re warm, full of stories, and as in love with the place as you’ll probably be.