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Coat of Arms of the Visconti of Milan depicting the biscione, a serpent who appears to be swallowing a human, but is actually giving birth to it.

The House of Visconti was an Italian noble family of the High and Late Middle Ages. Their origins are found in the Republic of Pisa in the mid twelfth century. They achieved prominence first in Pisa, then in Sardinia, where they became rulers of Gallura, and finally in Milan, where they made their most permanent mark.

The first Visconti of note in Pisa was Alberto, who bore the title patrician. Alberto's son, Eldizio, bore the titles patrician and consul from 1184 to 1185. It was Eldizio's sons, Lamberto and Ubaldo I, who brought the family to the height of its influence in Pisa and Sardinia. Both of them carried the title of patrician and each served a term as podestà.

In 1212, there was complete anarchy in Pisa as various factions, pro- and anti-Visconti, warred over the political authority. In mid-January 1213, William I of Cagliari led a coalition of anti-Visconti forces to victory in battle near Massa over the combined forces of Lucca and the Visconti under Ubaldo. Afterwards, Pisa divided power between four rectores, one of which was a Visconti. The Visconti of Sardinia continued to take a part in Pisan politics to the end of the century, but their influence there was greatly diminished after 1213.

In Sardinia Eldizio had married a daughter of Torchitorio III of Cagliari, who became the mother of Lamberto and Ubaldo. In 1207, Lamberto married Elena, the heiress of Barisone II of Gallura, thus securing control over the northeastern corner of Sardinia with his capital at Civita. In 1215, he and Ubaldo established their hegemony over the Giudicato of Cagliari in the south of the island as well. Through advantageous marriages, Lamberto's son, Ubaldo II, even secured power in Logudoro for a time. By mid century, Pisan authority was unopposed in Sardinia thanks to the Visconti, who were allied by marriage with the other great families of Pisa (Gherardeschi and Capraia) and Sardinia (Lacon and Bas-Serra).

The Visconti of Gallura used a cock as their symbol (Gallura meaning 'land of cocks'), whereas the Visconti of Milan used a serpent.

• Lambert (1207 – 1225)
• Ubaldo (1225 – 1238)
• John (1238 – 1275)
• Nino (1275 – 1298)
• Joanna (1298 – 1308)

The effectual founder of the Visconti of Milan, Ottone, wrested control of the city from the rival Della Torre family in 1277. The Visconti ruled Milan until the early Renaissance, first as Lords, then, from 1395, as Dukes. Visconti rule in Milan ended with the death of Filippo Maria Visconti in 1447. He was succeeded, after a short-lived republic, by his son-in-law Francesco I Sforza, beginning the reign of the House of Sforza. (The parental link to the pisan and sardinian branch is not historically proved).

• Ottone Visconti, Archbishop of Milan (1277 – 1294)
• Matteo I Visconti (1294 – 1302; 1311 – 1322)
• Galeazzo I Visconti (1322 – 1327)
• Azzone Visconti (1329 – 1339)
• Luchino I Visconti (1339 – 1349)
• Bernabò Visconti (1349 – 1385)
• Galeazzo II Visconti (1349 – 1378)
• Matteo II Visconti (1349 – 1355)
• Gian Galeazzo Visconti (1378 – 1402) {1st Duke of Milan & nephew of Bernabò Visconti}
• Giovanni Maria Visconti (1402 – 1412)
• Filippo Maria Visconti (1412 – 1447)

From Uberto, brother of Matteo I, came the lateral branch of Dukes of Modrone. To this family belonged Luchino Visconti, one of the most prominent film directors of Italian neorealist cinema.

• Pope Gregory X (1210–1276) was born Teobaldo Visconti in Piacenza.
• Valentina Visconti, elder daughter of Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duchess of Orléans and grandmother of the King Louis XII of France, who conquered Milan as her heir