Since the second half of the 19th century the City of Milan has purchased many art works and received large donations from famous citizens: so at a certain point it became necessary to divide the group of the 19th-century and early 20th century works from the rest of the Municipal Art Collections, and the solution to the problem was to build the Galleria d'Arte Moderna.
The gallery opened in 1904 in some rooms of the Castello Sforzesco of Milan, which soon proved to be in a poor location and was moved to the Villa Reale of via Palestro in the early 1920s, after the purchase of the building by the City. 
In the years between the two world wars the Collection expanded as the result of donations to and acquisitions made by the City of Milan. In 1956 the contemporary art collection was expanded with the addition of the Carlo Grassi collection presented by Carlo Grassi’s widow in memory of their son who had died in Africa. It is an important set of works of several eras: 15th-century Dutch paintings, paintings of the Tuscan macchiaioli or works from Divisionism, Scapigliatura, French Impressionism and Postimpressionism, Futurism and Roman school. Ignazio Gardella was commissioned to arrange the collection in the attic rooms of the Villa Belgiojoso.
"The Raccolta Grassi is located in the attic rooms of the Villa Belgiojoso, which is now the premises of the Galleria d'Arte Moderna.
Earlier, these rooms were accessed only through a narrow service staircase.
The connection has been made possible through a staircase contained in a rectangular room that has been obtained by the demolition of the pre-existing staircase and some service rooms around an elliptical-shaped central pillar.
At the beginning of and along the staircase, on the large intermediate landings are paintings and art objects from the collection, in partly embedded showcases that form compositions with the windows that frame views of the garden outside.
The staircase, which is an element of interest for the visitor because it shows some pieces of the collection, prevent an interruption between the first and the second floors.
The exhibition rooms on the second floor have been obtained by knocking down the timber walls and returning to the original main walls. The vaulted ceiling has been maintained and renovated”. (From P. Zermini, "Ignazio Gardella", Laterza, Bari 1991)
How to get there: MM1 Palestro; MM3 Turati
Buses 94-61-54
CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION
LAMBRATE RAILWAY STATION
On foot from the Duomo: walk along Corso V. Emanuele II untill Piazza S.Babila. Continue along Corso Venezia. Turn left in Via Palestro.
Public opening hours: Tuesday through Sunday 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. / 2.00 p.m. - 5.30 p.m.
Closed on Monday, 1 May, 15 August, 25 December
Free entrance
Useful information: Telephone: 02.76340809 Fax: 02.77809761
Sources: Paolo Zermani, Ignazio Gardella, Editori Laterza, Bari 1991
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