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Tired of the usual tourist attractions in Milan? Already visited the Duomo? Motored the canals of the Navigli district?
Take a walk to the Zone of Silence neighborhood, located northeast of the Cathedral of San Babila. Aptly named because of its location tucked away from Milan’s heavily trafficked streets, it offers many early modern buildings. One of these, Casa Sola-Busca, is nothing architecturally spectacular in itself…what is located on the front of the building is what you need to seek out, keeping in mind the irony of the neighborhood name.
Nicknamed “Ca ‘de l’Oreggia” or “House of the Ear”, the building features a large ear on its facade.
Yes…an ear.
Long before doorbells were commonplace, a method of announcement was required by visitors. Hence, the ear.
Designed by master sculptor, Adolfo Wildt and maestros Lucio Fontana and Luigi Brogginiin in 1930, the auditory organ was used by callers…to do just that. Calling right into the ear, which was equipped with an early intercom, it allowed visitors to announce their arrival.
After many years of the ear’s existence, the original owners and creators relinquished their residence. Despite the ear’s former practicality, subsequent tenants finally had the sculpture disconnected, as many a curious passerby could not resist revealing their secrets into the able ear.
The now quiet ear is still visible today on Via Serbelloni.
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Casa Sola-Busca
- Address: Via Serbelloni 10, Milan, Italy
- Hours: No posted hours
- Admission: free
- Getting There: From metro stop, San Babila, take Corso Venezia northwest, crossing Via Senato. Continue of Via Senato to Via Gabrio Serbelloni and take a right. Casa Sola-Busca is located on the right.