The history of Palazzo Reale is indissolubly linked with that of Milan. Its origins are very ancient: seat of the government of the city from the late Middle Ages, it saw its role strengthen as a political center with the advent of the families of Torriani, Visconti and Sforza. In the second half of the eighteenth century, under Austrian rule, the building was covered with ornaments and decorations that were inspired by the teresian baroque. Towards the end of that century there was the neo-classical transformation implemented by Giuseppe Piermarini. Since then it was a palace of rulers, from Maria Teresa to Napoleon, from Ferdinand the First to the Savoia family, kings of Italy. Distinguished artists celebrated the glories of kings and emperors and they enriched Palazzo Reale with magnificent works of art, paintings and furniture. In 1920 Palazzo Reale became property of Italian State and it was opened to the people’s visits. The bombing of 1943 destroyed part of the building and only today, after twenty years of laborious restorations and rehabilitation projects, one can see the complete restitution of the palace to Milan.