A Traveler's Guide to Milan's Must-See Phenomenon: "Fata Morgana: Memories from the Invisible"
A journey to Milan, a city celebrated for its Duomo, its fashion, and its da Vinci legacy, now offers a passage into the unseen with the critically acclaimed exhibition, "Fata Morgana: Memories from the Invisible." Thanks to its extraordinary public and critical success, this captivating show has been extended and will now be on view at Palazzo Morando until Sunday, January 4, 2026, making it a compelling destination for travelers with plans to visit Italy in the coming months. In its first month alone, the exhibition welcomed over twelve thousand visitors, confirming its status as one of the most discussed and visited cultural events of the Milanese season.
The exhibition is a profound exploration of the connections between art, spirituality, and esoteric knowledge, conceived by the Nicola Trussardi Foundation and curated by the renowned trio of Massimiliano Gioni, Daniel Birnbaum, and Marta Papini. The title draws inspiration from the legendary sorceress Fata Morgana (Morgan le Fay), a symbol of freedom and nonconformity, and from André Breton's poem where dream and reality merge. This thematic core unfolds as a "museum within a museum," presenting 286 works by 78 artists that together form an atlas of the invisible, charting a course through artistic revelations from the 19th century to the present day.
Housed in the elegant Baroque Palazzo Morando in the heart of the city's Fashion District, the exhibition finds a perfect conceptual home. The building was once the residence of Countess Lydia Caprara Morando Attendolo Bolognini, a patron and scholar of eccentric disciplines like alchemy, theosophy, and spiritualism. Her dual philanthropic and mystical legacy makes the palazzo the ideal setting for an exhibition that intertwines historical heritage with artistic research dedicated to challenging the boundaries of rational thought and questioning gender hierarchies and social conventions.
For any traveler, the practical details of a visit are exceptionally appealing. The exhibition is located at Palazzo Morando on Via Sant'Andrea 6 and is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, remaining closed on Mondays. Best of all, admission is completely free, thanks to the Nicola Trussardi Foundation's long-standing mission to bring contemporary art out of traditional spaces and make it accessible to everyone. This open and inclusive approach has united a diverse audience of school groups, scholars, tourists, and enthusiasts, all drawn to this unique artistic experience.
Recognizing the exceptional quality and reception of the project, the Municipality of Milan granted an extraordinary extension, adding more than a month to its original run. Beatrice Trussardi, President of the Nicola Trussardi Foundation, stated that "Fata Morgana demonstrates how an open and widespread institutional model can continue to surprise and engage an ever-wider audience," confirming the strength of an approach that restores art to its role as a shared experience. Gianfranco Maraniello, Director of the Modern and Contemporary Art Museums of the City of Milan, added that the collaboration has allowed Palazzo Morando to "rediscover a new voice," creating an excellent example of public-private synergy.
The exhibition features an incredible roster of international artists and visionaries, including the pioneering abstract artist Hilma af Klint, surrealists like Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray, and mediumistic artists such as Georgiana Houghton and Augustin Lesage. The show is accompanied by a comprehensive publication from Electa, which includes critical texts and images of the works on display. For those planning a trip to Milan, a visit to "Fata Morgana" offers a unique and thought-provoking counterpoint to the city's more traditional attractions, an unforgettable journey into the mysteries of the imagination that is both effortlessly accessible and utterly profound.
