“Reviving Milan’s Historic Heart with ‘La Ragione Abbandonata’ Project”

In Milan’s Piazza dei Mercanti stands the medieval Palazzo della Ragione. Its upper floor has been closed for about ten years.

The La Ragione Abbandonata initiative frames the restoration as reviving Milan’s historic heart. The plan seeks to reactivate this central public space.

Historical background

The palace was completed in 1251 as a broletto. It served as the city’s civic and commercial hub.

Over centuries it hosted public offices, archives, and economic activities. The municipal seat later moved to Palazzo Marino.

The piazza retains a compact medieval layout. Nearby landmarks include the Loggia degli Osii and Palazzo Giureconsulti.

Reasons for prolonged closure

Closure resulted from layered technical and functional problems. No single event caused the decade-long shutdown.

Alterations over time created complex structural constraints. An eighteenth-century raising and later works changed loads and layout.

Modern requirements for safety, accessibility, and systems are hard to integrate. The building’s protected status complicates interventions.

In the 1970s the need for repairs emerged. Partial consolidation and a staircase by Dezzi Bardeschi were implemented.

A lack of stable management and dedicated funds prevented continuous reuse in recent years. This stalled activation of the space.

Restoration and interventions

The project foresees a conservative restoration. The investment is about 9 million euros.

Additional maintenance funding totals roughly 700,000 euros. The works cover approximately 1,300 square metres.

The Grande Hall with frescoes will be recovered. New functional elements will be introduced carefully.

A second glass-and-metal staircase will be built beside the existing Dezzi Bardeschi stair. A glass elevator will ensure full accessibility.

Capacity will increase from about 100 to 500 people. This allows broader use for public events.

Planned uses

The venue will host mainly cultural activities. Exhibitions, conferences and compatible events are expected.

The city will have direct use for roughly three months each year. Institutional initiatives are planned from November to February.

The project forms part of a wider effort to reactivate the piazza. Work on the Loggia dei Mercanti is coordinated with these plans.

Timeline and management

The design phase should conclude by 2026. Construction is slated to begin in 2027.

Work is estimated to last 13 months. Reopening is scheduled by the end of 2028.

Long-term management will be entrusted to the Chamber of Commerce. The concession is planned for thirty years.

Filmogaz.com will follow updates as the project progresses. The restoration aims to bring life back to this historic core.