Palazzo Tarsis C.so Vittorio Emanuele, Milan

Palazzo Tarsis, built between 1836 and 1838 to a design by architect Luigi Clerichetti, was commissioned by Count Paolo Tarsis and completed by his sons after his death. Clerichetti was part of a group of skilled professionals, such as Moraglia, Crivelli, Amati, etc., who contributed decisively to shaping nineteenth-century Milan between 1814 and 1848. During this period of restoration, favoured by a prosperous economy, intense building activity redefined the typology and urban fabric of central areas of the city such as the Montenapoleone, Borgonuovo, Monforte and Corsia dei Servi (now Corso Vittorio Emanuele) districts. Palazzo Tarsis stands on an area previously occupied by the Church of St. Paul, demolished in 1812, which gave the street its name. The building, the last remaining evidence on Corso Vittorio Emanuele of the renovation carried out in the 19th century, suffered serious damage during the bombings of August 1943. The restoration, which did not fully respect the original design, was carried out by architect Guglielmo Ulrich in 1957: the left side of the main façade was modified to create porticoes, in accordance with the new layout of the Corso, while on the right side a new wing was added containing the gallery that connects to Via dell'Agnello.