The 80,000-square-meter imperial palace of Mediolanum

The Romans transformed the western side of Mediolanum, known today as Milan, by creating a significant portion of the city dedicated to the imperial palace and its district. When the city became the capital in 286 AD, Massimiano decorated it with various monuments. The palace complex covered 80,000 square meters and served as the home for the emperor and his court, containing administrative offices, representation rooms, private baths, permanent military garrisons, private places of worship, and residential areas.

The palace was designed with a covered and protected passage leading directly to the adjacent Roman circus, allowing the emperor to reach the venue without using the public streets. The complex was referred to in documents as palatium or regia. It was the site of historical events such as a meeting between Massimiano and Diocletian, as well as a speech by the senatorial delegation of Quinto Aurelio Simmaco to Valentinian II and his mother Justina in the palace council chamber.

The palace was gradually abandoned between the end of the Longobard dominion and the first half of the 10th century, with complete demolition occurring before the century ended. From that point on, the imperial palace disappears from the records, though the memory of the site is preserved in the name of the church of San Giorgio al Palazzo, a place of worship dating back to the 12th century.

Remains of the palace have been discovered in several locations, including via Brisa, piazza Mentana, via Morigi, via Sant'Orsola, via Borromei, via Gorani, and piazza Borromeo. Excavations between 1951 and 1962 revealed foundations, some above-ground walls, and parts of decorated floors. In via Brisa, these remains are visible in an outdoor museum area, while in via Gorani and piazza Borromeo, some remains of colonnaded courtyards have been found.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons