The skylines and views of Milano
Milano has a few skyscrapers that have been popping up around the famous Pirelli Tower, that is considered to be the first modern skyscraper in Europe, and is located close to the central station. Most of them were built in the 1950s, but in this area, a new generation of taller skyscrapers are under construction, four of them will beat Pirelli's 127m. And even taller ones are planned, that could be up to 310m tall! For example, Regione Lombardia will be 163m tall and Torre Varesine 1, the new tallest, will be 175m tall, when completed in 2009. So from 2009, Milan can start to compete with Naples about the best skyline of Italy. The rest of Milano hasn't many tall buildings though, except for the Gothic Cathedral and the famous Torre Velasca in the city center. Milano also have 4 high TV and observation towers, from which one of them I have taken pictures of the skyline.
The skyline from Torre Branca:
Torre Branca is a 108 m tall very thin tower in the park Sempione in west part of central Milano. Its external glass elevator takes you up to the top for just 3 euro. It was built in 1933.
To the left you can see Ferrovio dello Stato 1 & 2 and a new skyscraper under construction ub the middle Pirelli Tower and to the right Torre Breda.
In the middle you can see the 127m tall Pirelli Tower from 1958, that have been Milano's tallest building until 2008.
To the right is the 117m tall Torre Breda and to the left in the distance is Galfa Building and Servizi Tecnici Comunali. In the front you can see Arena Civica.
In the distance: The Gothic Cathedral (107m) and Torre Velasca (106m). In the front: Castello Sforzesco.
Ferrovio dello Stato 1 & 2 from 1989 and 1992 are both 98 m tall, but have somewhat different designs. To the right is Galfa Building (129m) and the 90m tall Servizi Tecnici Comunali.
Castello Sforzesco and Parco Sempione from above.
Closeup of Castello Sforzesco.
The southwest outskirts of Milan. In the distance you can see the city's tallest structure: Torre delle Telecomunicazioni Milano Sud from 1990, 185 m to the top of the antenna (171 m to the spire).
Gemini Center 1 & 2 from 1995 far in the outskirts. 96 & 98 m tall, both have 21 floors.
Torre RAI, another TV tower, that looks like Torre Branca, where the photo was taken from. It is 160m tall.
Piazza Sempione with the Arch of Triumph unfortunately currently under renovation...
Cemetery Monumentale.
Stadio San Siro (officially Stadio Giuseppe Meazza) from 1926 (!) is home to three of Italy's most successful football teams and is one of the world's most famous stadiums.
Skyline in the outskirts from the train:
The skyline of a glass highrise complex in the northern outskirts of Milano.
Skyline from the entrance to Cemetery Monumentale:
From the entrance to the large and beautiful Cemetery Monumentale, we got this unexpected skyline consisting of the 98 m tall Ferrovio dello Stato 1 & 2, the new AC Hotel Milano and a clock tower.
You can also see a new skyscraper u/c, possibly Torre Varesine.
Here you can also see Torre Breda in the far right distance.
Skyline from the front of the central station:
Pirelli Tower, Milan's tallest building for a long time (will change in 2009) and Galfa Building. Seen from the piazza Duca d'Aosta in front of the central staion.
Towards the boulevard Pisani. Another skyline seen from the same piazza, with Torre Breda in the center.
Piazza Duomo and Piazza della Scala
Piazza Duomo is the heart of Milano. It is the square where both the huge Galleria Vittorio Emmenuell II, the world's most famous and first large galleria and Il Duomo, the world's largest Gothic cathedral are situated. And at Piazza della Scala, on the other side of the galleria, is La Scala, the world's most famous opera house. The first thing that I noticed was that the square is not as large as it looks in the pictures, but the cathedral and the galleria are larger! When I arrived in Milan I got the feeling it is a safe city, but I soon found out that you have to be careful to avoid a couple of African guys that do everything they can to force people to buy a cheap bracelet that they say comes from Africa, and that includes blocking your way and preventing you from going away until you have bought it!
Piazza Duomo:
Piazza Duomo with the galleria to the left and the cathedral to the right. If you plan to go there, look carefully to avoid the black guys that try to steal your money by forcing you to stop at the metro escalator or on the square, put a bracelet on you within a second and then don't let you go away until you have given them your money - in the light of the day! That ruined my first visit of the square, but I got back later.
Il Duomo, the Cathedral of Milano, is the world's largest Gothic cathedral. The construction of the cathedral begun in the 14th century, but wasn't completed until 1813. It is 107m tall to the spire. Parts of the cathedral are still under renovation.
The length of the cathedral, that one of Italy's most famous buildings, is 157 m.
The interior height of its central nave (46m) is surpassed only by 2 cathedrals in the world, depending of how you count.
Details of the cathedral.
Almost everything is forbidden if you want to go inside the whole cathedral, including bare arms (if you are a woman), cameras and bags. But even if you don't fit the taste of the metal detectors and guards, you can sometimes go just inside the entrance and see the mighty interior.
More details.
Here are some of the bracelets that the African guys have forced to both tourists and local people, who most often take them off immediately.
The huge entance to Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II from Piazza Duomo. Vittorio Emmanuelle II was the first king of the united Italy.
Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II, the world's first really large shopping galleria is situated between Piazza Duomo and Piazza della Scala. It was originally designed in 1861 and built by Giuseppe Mengoni between 1865 and 1877 and many gallerias, especially in the USA, have been modeled after this one. I couldn't find any info about how many stores there are in the galleria. In contrary to what many people think, there where other gallerias that were built before, but not close to this size.
The outer arcade of the galleria.
Prada, Mercedes-Benz, Louis Vitton, Gucci - some of the brand stores that can be found in this large and exclusive galleria...
...and Mc Donald's!
The galleria's domed glass ceiling is majestic.
So are the roof.
The galleria has two glass-vaulted arcades. Many shopping gallerias has taken the name "galleria" from Milan's galleria.
Towards Piazza della Scala in the northwest. The Town House Galleria Hotel that opened in the galleria 2007 is the city's most expensive and ultra-luxorious hotel, said to be 7 star.
Towards Il Duomo. It feels more like a couple of covered streets than a mall, since its vaults are open to the "outside world".
The galleria at Piazza della Scala.
The other, less interesting side of Piazza Duomo. To the right you can see Palazzo Reale, the former Royal Palace. Today it hosts two popular museums.
La Rinascente, next to the galleria, is Milian's largest and most exclusive department stores, with fashion as a speciality. It was founded in 1865 on another address.
La Rinascente has about 10 floors and a café and an exclusive grocery department on the top floor.
The exterior of La Rinascente.
An exclusive branch of the Swedish H&M store.
A vintage Rolls-Royce at Piazza Duomo.
Piazza della Scala:
La Scala. The world's most famous and most prominent opera house. However, neither the size or the architecture was impressive considering its rumour. I think they prefer quality over quantity. It was inaugurated in 1778 and renovated 2002-2004.
Palazzo Marino from 1553, today the city hall of Milano. Someone told me that the photos are of prisons that Italy wants to be released.
Banco Commerciale Italiana.
The Leonardo da Vinci statue, between the Galleria and La Scala. A nice place to have lunch. There I couldn't see any of the guys from Africa that try to cheat people, just a few beggars.
The entrance to Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II and the da Vinci statue from Piazza della Scala.
Teatro alla Scala, the Galleria and the da Vinci statue. La Scala has a theater museum and is home to many famous divas.
Details of the da Vinci statue.
The intersection at Piazza della Scala.
Central Milano
This page is about central Milano, about the sites that are not directly around Piazza Duomo. From the area around the huge central station and Pirelli Tower to the Porta Venezia and Corso Buenos Aires, the area where we stayed. Around the central station, many new skyscrapers are planned and under construction, that will beat the current tallest, Pirelli Tower.
Stazione Centrale is Milan's largest train station and is the place where we arrived. The proportions of this monumental station from 1931 are enormous. It was designed by Ulisse Stacchini. It was very hot when we arrived, 30 degrees.
Stazione Centrale. The train we arrived with after a 2 hour trip from Genova.
Stazione Centrale has decorations as well as Ikea adds.
The interior of the station is huge!
The entrance to the railtracks at the central station.
Pirelli Tower, the tallest building in Milano at the moment, most famous skyscraper in Italy and a landmark of the city that was the 2nd tallest building in Europe when completed. It is 124m tall (127m to the spire) and has 32 floors. Pirelli Tower has been Milan's tallest building since it was completed in 1958, but several new skyscrapers (at least four) that will be completed in 2009, will beat it in size. Pirelli Tower was built as the headquarters of the Pirelli tire company, but is today owned by Regione Lombardia. It is so famous partly because it is counted as the first skyscraper in Europe with a striking modernist design and the first skyscraper in the world to use a long-span frame structure.
A small private plane crashed in the upper floors of the Pirelli Building in April 2002, setting the 24th and the 25th floor on fire. At first people thought that it was a new terrorist attack, but it turned out it was just an accident. 3 people were killed. It is hard to see now that large parts of the exterior were destroyed.
Piazza Duca d'Aosta is the square between the central station and Pirelli. To the right behind Pirelli Tower is the 109 m tall Galfa Building from 1956.
Pisani Street, looking towards Torre Breda and some other tall buildings. Seen from Piazza Duca d'Aosta.
Torre Breda is 117m tall and has 30 floors. It has been Milano's 2nd tallest building from its completion until 2009. Built in 1954 and now under renovation, it is an example of even earlier futuristic skyscraper design than Pirelli, but it is 10 m shorter.
Some more towers can be seen in the distance to the left of Pirelli.
The central station seen from Piazza Duca d'Aosta.
Hotel Serena is the 3 star hotel where we stayed, located a few blocks from Corso Buenos Aires.
The view from our room at Hotel Serena.
Orange trams of Milano.
There are also really old ones from as earlt as 1928, some of them are yellow...
...but the new trams are green and grey.
Looking towards Torre Velasca.
Torre Velasca is one of Milano's most famous landmarks, it has 26 floors and is 106 m tall. It was built in 1958, the same year as the Pirelli Tower. Velasca has a more old fashioned design than Pirelli, that is very characteristic. It is located at Piazza Velasca.
[показать]Torre Velasca follows the Lombardian tradition of buildings that are wider on the top than on the lower parts, often compared to a castle. It is used both for commercial and residential use.
San Gottardo il Corte is a church tower from 1336, close to Duomo.
Basilica di San Lorenzo at Piazza della Vetra is one of Milano's most famous churches. It is an early Christian basilica, built between the 1300s and 1400s.
Santa Maria at San Satiro. From this side it is confusingly alike San Lorenzo Maggiore with its mix of styles.
Santa Maria at San Satiro was built with the beginning in 1478 and is very close to Piazza Duomo.
Giardino Guastalla, beautiful gardens near Torre Velasca and Duomo.
Il Duomo.
Torre di Porta Romana. At 89 m and 25 floors it is not very tall, but at the place were it stands it looks tall.
Porta Venezia at Piazza Oberdan. In the background is the park Giardini Pubblici (Public Garden).
The oldest and the most modern trams of Milano, seen at the same time at Porta Venezia.
Looking towards Torre Breda.
Corso Buenos Aires, a large road near our hotel with many brand stores.
Houses at Corso Buenos Aires.
Via Vitruvio towards Pirelli Building.
Via Manzoni, named after the famous poet Alessandro Manzoni. There are many police cars on the streets of Milano, most of them Alfa Romeos.
The arch at the end of Via Manzoni, seen from a double decked city sightseeing bus.
An exciting monument a couple of blocks from Duomo.
More Milano churches.
Via Dante towards Piazza Cordusio with Palazzo della Ragione to the left.
Palazzo della Ragione is a medieval complex with vaults from 1223, that is the former seat of the governor.
A building opposite Palazzo della Ragione at Via Dante.
Piazza Cordusio. A small square with beautiful buildings.
Piazza Cordusio is just one block from Piazza Duomo (so you can see both the Duomo and the galleria in the background).
The entrance to the Galleria from Piazza Cordusio.
Via Dante towards Castello Sforzesco.
Greenery at Piazza Cordusio.
Foro Buonaparte is a boulevard that goes in a halfcircle near Paco Sempione.
Foro Buonaparte. These pictures were taken from the tourist double decker. We found out that a better and cheaper way to see the city is to use the local traffic.
Piazza Cadorna. A secret monument is under construction, that soon will be revealed.
Piazza Cadorna. This square has a couple of modern sculpturers in childish colours.
Another sculpoture in the same colours at Piazza Cadorna.
Castello Sforzesco seen from Piazza Cadorna.
Piazza Liberty.
The Ferrari store at Piazza Liberty! Opened in 2005. It has 8 floors and is one of only 9 in the world!
Ferrari ties, perfume and pencils.
In the Ferrari store you can buy everything related to Ferrari.
A model car for 4290 euro!
A Ferrari engine.
And of course a real Formula 1 car!
Numbers at Via Vittorio Emanuelle.
A smaller galleria close to the larger one.
San Carolo Church.
Via Montenapoleone. This famous street might not look special at the first glance.
But it is one of the most exclusive streets in Europe with luxorious brand stores where you have to ring on a bell before you get in.
Cartier, Rolex as well as Gucci and many other expensive brands are represented on Via Montenapoleone.
Many 2-wheeled vehicles can be seen on the streets of Milano, like in most other cities.
Stazione Centrale at dark.
Sempione
This page is about Park Sempione and its surroundings. Sempione is the largest park in central Milan. Piazza Castello where Sforza Castle is and Piazza Sempione where the Arch of Peace is are connected to the park..
Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle) at Piazza Castello, next to Parco Sempione. The construction of the castle begun in the 14th century, but it was reconstructed in the mid 15th century. Today it houses five museums and art gallerys. In Pinacoteca del Castello Sforzesco Michelangelo's last sculpture and a famous manuscript by Leonardo da Vinci. It was damaged in the 1943 bombings of Milan, but was rebuilt.
Castello Sforzesco is one of the landmarks of Milano. The castle is the entrance to Parco Sempione.
Sforza Castle.
Torre Branco, a 108 m high tower that we went up to with an external elevator to see great views of Milano.
Parco Sempione and Castello Sforzesco seen from Torre Branco. More views from Torre Branco can be seen in the skyline section.
Castello Sforzesco seen from Parco Sempione.
Arch of Peace, Milan's Arch of Triumph, at Piazza Sempione, was "of course" under renovation. It was designed by Luigi Cagnola as a memory of the European peace in 1815.
Arch of Peace and Torre Branco from Piazza Sempione.
Torre RAI with Arch of Peace to the right.
Via Sempione from Piazza Sempione at Parco Sempione.
Via Bertani at Parco Sempione with one of the Ferrovio dello Stato towers in the distance.
Parco Sempione is an average park with pines and spruces, but the largest in the city center. We rarely saw any palms in Miilano. Wide white clay paths can be seen all over the park, a bit too much I think.
A creek in Parco Sempione.
Cemetery Monumentale
Cimitero Monumentale is probably the most beautiful cemetery I have been to, since there tend to be too many tourists at the more famous Pere Lachaise in Paris. It was really hot the day we visited the cemetery, but it is highly recommended, few tourists seem to be aware of it, and that is probably a good thing. It is located just north of downtown Milan and many famous Italians are buried here. The cemetert us filled with elaborate pavilions, Greek temples, obelisks and columns and there is a certain melancholic and beautiful feeling in this churchyard that you rarely see elsewhere. Some of Milan's tallest buildings can also be seen from the cemetery, that also has a skyline of its own...
Piazzale del Cimitero Monumentale is where Cimitero Monumentale di Milano is situated.
The main entrance is through the large Neo-Medieval marble and stone building Famedio (Temple of Fame).
Famedio also serves as a huge tomb for some of Italy's most honoured citizens. The cemetery was designed by the architect Carlo Maciachini.
The cemetery opened in 1866.
The tombs inside the Temple of Fame.
A little note: a sculptured version of da Vinci's "the last supper", more impressive and accesible than the original oil painting inside a church in Milan.
The outskirts of Milano
The only time I saw something of the outskirts of Milan, was when I was approaching city by train to the west (from Genova) and leaving it from the north (to Bergamo). I noticed that there hardly was any rundown buildings or slums, except for the graffitti and backyards that you can see from railtracks in cities all over the world. Except for normal midsized apartment buildings and some commie highrise districts, I saw some office districts in the northern suburbs.
The skyline of a glass highrise complex in the northern outskirts of Milano.
Some office blocks seen from the Milano Rogoreda station in the northern outskirts.
At Nicolini street we found some kind of Chinatown. It was interesting since it was totally unexpected. We found it by chance on the way to Cemetery Monumentale.
There were almost only Chinese stores and restaurants and Asians on the street. The "Chinatown" is not exactly in the outskirts, but not in the center either. It is located just north of Parco Sempione.
Some triple highrises near Cemetery Monumentale.
Skyline seen from the entrance of Cemetery Monumentale, dominated by Ferrovio dello Stato.
Approaching Milano's central station from the north.
The outskirts with Stadio San Siro seen from Torre Branca.
The southwest outskirts of Milan seen from Torre Branca. In the distance you can see the city's tallest structure: Torre delle Telecomunicazioni Milano Sud from 1990, 185 m to the top of the antenna (171 m to the spire).