In the early 1900s Ermenegildo Castiglioni challenged the conservatives, the conformists, and the old nobles of Milan by commissioning a scandalous building. The industrialist wanted a Liberty-style, modern, grandiose, and different construction compared to all the ones found in Corso Venezia. When the scaffolding was removed, a wave of criticism fell on the structure designed by Giuseppe Sommaruga, due to the statues framing its front door.
For the locals, the figures presented as allegories of peace and industry were plainly two busty and half-naked women on the façade of the building that was mockingly nicknamed Cà di ciapp (house of the asses).
Castiglioni succumbed to the sarcasm and protests, and removed the two statues. They were later reused as the decorations of a side entrance of Villa Faccanoni. What is more difficult to remove is the nickname of Palazzo Castiglioni, which is hard to forget.
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