A limestone bas-relief titled Ancient Architecture, created by sculptor Giuseppe Maretto in 1939, ornaments the Torre Locatelli on Milan’s Piazza della Repubblica. The relief forms part of the tower’s sculptural programme, enhancing the monumental character of the building’s facade.
The Torre Locatelli, designed by architect Mario Bacciocchi, was constructed between 1936 and 1939 as a gateway structure to the viale leading toward Milano Centrale station. Standing at the corner of Piazza della Repubblica and Via Vittor Pisani, the tower reaches 67 metres across seventeen storeys. Its lower three storeys feature a luminous marble base punctuated by a double-height portico on the Via Pisani facade, while upper storeys are articulated by terracotta cornices at two-storey intervals. The building serves primarily residential functions alongside tertiary office spaces. Maretto’s bas-relief exemplifies the decorative vocabulary of Italian Rationalist architecture of the interwar period, where historical and allegorical themes enriched the austere geometric language of modernist design.
About the Torre Locatelli
The tower was designed by architect Mario Bacciocchi as one of a planned pair of monumental gateway structures. The intended twin structure was never realized; the Torre Breda was subsequently built in its place. The completed tower has remained in continuous use since its inauguration.
Details
- Creator: Giuseppe Maretto (sculptor)
- Architect: Mario Bacciocchi
- Year: 1939
- Location: Piazza della Repubblica 27, Milan
- Type: Limestone bas-relief
- Subject: Ancient Architecture
- Movement: Italian Rationalism
Frequently asked questions
Who created this relief?
The bas-relief was sculpted by Giuseppe Maretto in 1939 as part of the decorative programme for the Torre Locatelli.
Where is it located?
The relief adorns the Torre Locatelli, situated at Piazza della Repubblica 27 in Milan, at the corner with Via Vittor Pisani.
When was the tower built?
The Torre Locatelli was constructed between 1936 and 1939 according to the design of architect Mario Bacciocchi.
