Carlo Tognoli's Cultural Legacy in Milan Remembered by Renato Barilli

Renato Barilli, former PSI cultural official and art critic, pays tribute to Carlo Tognoli, the late mayor of Milan (1976-1986), highlighting his pivotal role in the city's cultural renaissance. Barilli recalls that Tognoli, an art lover, appointed an expert committee to oversee exhibitions, including Barilli (PSI), Flavio Caroli (PCI), Vittorio Fagone (far-left), and architect Augusto Morello, despite opposition from civic collections director Mercedes Garberi. Under Tognoli, the landmark interdisciplinary exhibition "Annitrenta" (1982) was organized, rehabilitating the 1930s from its fascist stigma. Tognoli secured the Galleria del Sagrato, Arengario, Sala delle Cariatidi, and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II as venues, and obtained a 300 million lire sponsorship from Branca. Barilli also mentions the revival of Palazzo Reale's second floor for "pittura ambiente" exhibitions, and Tognoli's grant of the Rotonda della Besana for six shows. Tognoli allowed Lea Vergine to hold her seminal feminist exhibition "L'altra metà delle avanguardie." After his mayorship, Tognoli passed the baton to Paolo Pillitteri, enabling Barilli to curate two 19th-century art exhibitions at Palazzo Reale, now part of Intesa Sanpaolo's galleries. Tognoli survived Tangentopoli with his reputation intact.