A list of Napoleon's headquarters during the Italian Campaign 1796 – 1797.

List of Napoleon's headquarters 1796 - 1797

Palazzo Vescovile, Savona: Having just arrived at the Italian front (April 1796), Napoleon set up his headquarters in bishop's palace. It was here he carved out the manoeuvre of driving a wedge between the Piedmontese and the Austrians. It is however another event that the 17th century Palazzo Vescovile and the whole of Savona are famous for. From 1809 to 1812 Pope Pius VII was imprisoned in Savona; first in the Palazzo di Santa Chiara and then in the Palazzo Vescovile. Hence Savona’s nickname ‘Cita dei Papi’. Open by appointment only.

Headquarters in Carcare: A few kilometres south of Dego lies the town of Carcare, where Bonaparte directed events from 12 – 14 April while his generals, Augereau and Massena, were fighting simultaneously at Cosseria and Dego respectively. The house is found in Piazza Germano, which is only open to the public in the sense that part of the house is occupied by a pharmacy.

Palazzo Comunale, Millesimo: While the fighting over Cosseria raged (13 April 1796), the French took control of Millesimo and established local headquarters in the Palazzo Comunale. Located in Millesimo’s main square, the building is of great interest as the room in which Bonaparte spent the night after the battle has been preserved. The building is open during normal working hours.

Palazzo del Carretto, Lesegno: Napoleon had now severed the communication lines between the Piedmontese and Austrians. The Piedmontese commander, Colli, abandoned Ceva and leaped to the another formidable defence complex at San Michele. The plan was worked out in Palazzo del Carretto in the small village of Lesegno. A few days later Bonaparte would install his headquarters in the same palace. The palace is not open to the public but the panoramic view from the raised village of Lesegno alone demands a visit.

Palazzo Salmatoris, Cherasco: Meanwhile Piedmont’s King sent out envoys to negotiate an armistice with Napoleon. Under little ceremonial grandeur, the Armistice of Cherasco was signed on 28 April in Palazzo Salmatoris, the town’s main cultural centre today. In 1631 the palace was the scene of the signing of the peace treaty that terminated the Casale War (a single chapter in the much larger pan-European conflict of the Thirty Years War). In 1706, during the French siege of Turin, the Savoy court sought refuge in the palace, taking with it the Holy Shroud of Christ (the Turin Shroud).Opening hours vary according to exhibitions.

Palazzo Modignani, Lodi: Having defeated the Piedmontese, Napoleon set off in pursuit of the Austrians. At Lodi he caught up with and defeated the enemy rear guard. The army was allowed a few days rest. Napoleon stayed in the Baroque 18th century Palazzo Modignani, a palace that has housed numerous other illustrious figures. Location: 29, Via XX Settembre. Not open to the public.

Palazzo Serbelloni, Milan. Following the victory at Lodi Napoleon claimed the grand price of Lombardy: Milan. He was supposed to have stayed in Palazzo Reale, but swayed by the hospitality of Gian Galeazzo Serbelloni, a leading Milanese republican receiving the French with open arms, he was accommodated in Palazzo Serbelloni. Recently refurbished, with huge gardens and surrounded by canals it was a slendid choice and Napoleon would return to Palazzo Serbelloni on numerous occasions. Location: 16, Corso Venezia. Open by appointment only.

Mombello, outside Milan: During most of the summer of 1797 Napoleon had his headquarters installed in the summer residence of the Crivelli family, friends of the Serbellonis. Today the building houses a school and is therefore only partially open to the public. Mombello is located on road No 527, c. 15 km east of Monza (or c. 20 km north of the centre of Milan).

Palazzo Guarienti, Valeggio: The fighting at Valeggio - which drove the Austrians out of northern italy - followed soon after the Battle of Lodi. Napoleon installed his headquarters in the modern Palazzo Guarienti, a stay that almost cost him captivity when an unexpected Austrian force carved its way through the streets of Valeggio. Open to the public.

Palazzo Fenaroli, Brescia: On a more permanent basis Napoleon’s headquarters were installed in Palazzo Fenaroli in Brescia. Napoleon and Josephine were together here at the end of July 1796 when an Austrian army under the command of General Wurmser came charging down from the Tyrol. Location: 17, Via Marsala. Not open to the public. Not open to the public.

Casa Caravaggio, Castiglione: General Wurmser was defeated in the fields outside Castiglione. The last details of the French battle plan were sorted out in Casa Caravaggio during the night of 4/5 August.

Palazzo Roberti, Bassano: By the end of August the same year Wurmser led yet another attempt to rid Italy of Napoleon's troops. After a long pursuit - first up the Adige valley, then down the Brenta valley - Napoleon routed the Austrians at Bassano. He installed army headquarters in Palazzo Roberti, spending the night in the very same room that Wurmser had slept in a few hours before. The Roberties were the Serbellonies of Bassano. For years the Palazzo Roberti functioned as the city’s local hub for the Enlightenment movement frequented by several famous intellectuals including Antonio Canova, the great Italian sculptor. Today the building houses a bookshop. Location: 34, Via Jacopo da Ponte. Opening hours: normal working hours.

Mayor's house, Ronco: The Austrians third attempt to defeat Napoleon shipwrecked at Arcole. For the three days that the Battle of Arcole lasted (15-17 November 1796), Napoleon had his headquarters installed in Ronco, the centre of operation. Opening hours: normal working hours.

Palazzo Forti, Verona: The importance of Verona meant that Bonaparte was a regular visitor to the city, at least until the popular uprising in April 1797. Most often he would stay in the Palazzo Forti belonging to Francesco Emilei, a prominent aristocrat, later to be executed by the French for his involvement in the popular uprising. Today it houses the city’s museum of modern art. Opening hours vary according to the exhibitions.