The Royal Palace is one of the most beautiful architectural master pieces of the Milanese 18th century. It was the home of the Visconti and of the Sforza families in the past and later, residence of the Spanish and Austrian governors. It was the architect Giuseppe Piermarini (the same who designed La Scala theatre) who renovated the building between 1771 and 1778 giving it the splendid Neoclassical appearance it has today. From 1598, the Royal Palace housed the first permanent theatre in Milan, then destroyed by fire in 1776. In 1965, the city of Milan purchased the palace to use it as offices, museums and for the temporary shows and exhibitions.