Ca' dell'Oreggia

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Locals affectionately call it Ca'dell'Oreggia (Ear House i Milanese dialect).  Can you guess what it is? It is a doorbell-intercom created in 1930.  At time the intercom served to visitors to communicate with the guardian who then to announce the visit to the families who lived there. Today it does not function anymore but has become mysterious.  It is said that anyone who comes near his ear and whispers their dreams, they will come true one day.

The intercom was created by Adolfo Wildt, a sculptor specialising in auricles.  No one know how the designer of Sola-Busca house' designer, Aldo Andreani got the unusual idea.  But during the interwar years, it was a fashion of mixing different cultures and epochs. Architects liked to put all sorts of design and styles together. It is a time that strange figures started appearing on the city's facades. The influence of this fashion can be seen at a number of buildings in the neighbourhood.



Nearby is the  via Mozart, between it and via Corso Venezia includes numerous palaces and building of historical and artistic interest. Indeed, the area is one of the most beautiful and elegant place in Milan. An example here is Berri Meregalli Palace, constructed in early 20th century. It is located at Cappuccini Street 8, corner Vivaio Street.  The palace was designed by Arada.  The facade is an eclectic collection of Romanesque influences (stones, bricks, arches, loggias), Gothic and Renaissance elements. A sculpture 'winged victory' (also designed by Adolfo Wildt) is sitting at the end of the entrance.

Location: Via Gabrio Serbelloni, 20122 Milano, Italy

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