Milan Car Rental  Milan Hotel Discounts  Milan Flight Discounts

Milan Landmarks and Milan Monuments (Milan, Italy)



It is hardly surprising that Milan, one of Italy's most important cities, is crammed full of spectacular landmarks and monuments. Famous throughout the world, many of these date back over 1,000 years and are in remarkable condition, thanks to faithful restoration and reconstruction work. Here are some of the top landmarks in Milan to visit.

Milan Landmarks: Arco della Pace (The Arch of Peace) - Piazza Sempione, Milan, Italy
This important Neo-Classical monument in Milan was originally built to celebrate Napoleon's victories and was to be called the Arch of Victories. Construction started in 1807 and the building work was interrupted with the designs changed to commemorate the peace of 1815 instead. Work was eventually resumed in 1826 and the monument was subsequently renamed the Arch of Peace. In 1838 the arch was inaugurated at the coronation of Ferdinand I as ruler of the Lombardy / Veneto region. The arch is situated in north-west Milan and is covered Crevola marble. On the top is a huge bronze named the 'Chariot of Peace', which consists of a chariot and four horses. There are also wonderful views of the Castello and Corso Sempione.




Milan Landmarks: Archi di Porta Nuova - Via Manzoni, Milan, Italy
The Porta Nuova arches were restored in 1861 and were originally part of Milan's ancient medieval wall, dating back to the late 12th century. This large and important city gate is situated in north-east Milan and is decorated with a Madonna and child on the Piazza Cavour side and copies of 1st-century tombstones on the Via Manzoni side.

Milan Landmarks: Porta Ticinese - Via Molino delle Armi, Milan, Italy
Originally on this site there was a small port dating back to Roman times, where the Norone and Seveso rivers converged into the Vettabbia canal. In 1329, the Porta Ticense city gate was remodelled by Azzone Visconti. He decorated it with a large and impressive tabernacle of the Madonna and Child with St. Ambrose holding a model of the city, which was created in the 14th century by Giovanni di Balduccio. In 1865, the Porta Ticinese city gate was fortified with two towers and is now only one of two still standing in Milan, the other gate being the Porta Nuova on Via Manzoni.

Milan Landmarks: Castello Sforzesco - Piazza Castello, Milan, Italy
The Sforza castle was built in 1368 by Galeazzo II Visconti as a large fortress in north-west Milan and has an interesting history. It was later enlarged in the 14th century, when it was converted into an impressive ducal palace. In 1447 is was partly demolished and a few years later, Francesco Sforza, the Lord of Milan, restored the castle and transformed it into one of the most splendid residences in Renaissance Italy. As the years passed, the Castello Sforzesco slowly fell into decline and at one stage even resumed its original military function. Almost demolished completely, Luca Beltrami saved the castle and restored it in the late 19th century. It is now an important museum centre, with many interesting attractions, including the Ducal chapel, with original frescoes painted in 1472, Rondanini Pieta, Michelangelo's final piece of work which was left unfinished, and the Filerete Tower, which collapsed in 1521 following an explosion and was rebuilt many years later in 1905.

Milan Landmarks: Stazione Centrale - Piazza Duca d'Aosta, Milan, Italy
This grand construction is home to Milan's main railway system, which is one of the largest and most impressive stations in Europe. Although it was designed in 1912, construction proved slow and the building was finally opened in 1931. This vast building has strong Art Nouveau influences and is a major landmark in Milan. Inside are a selection of shops, some of which are open 24 hours a day.

Milan Landmarks: Torre Velasca - Piazza Velasca 5, Milan, Italy
The tall Torre Velasca in south-east Milan was built in the 1950s by architects Peressutti, Belgioioso and Nathan Rogers. It was designed to create maximum office space in a restricted area and the upper parts overhang, making the actual building resemble a medieval tower. The stylish architecture and strong colours have ensured that it is one of modern-day Milan's most famous modern monuments.

Milan Landmarks: Grattacielo Pirelli (Pirelli Tower) - Piazzale Duca d'Aosta, Milan, Italy
The Pirelli Tower in north-east Milan was built in 1955 and was designed by a leading group of architects. It took around five years to complete and quickly became a symbol of postwar reconstruction in Milan. Affectionately known as 'Pirellone', the building is 127 metres / 417 feet high and was the world's largest reinforced concrete skyscraper for several years. It is called the Pierlli Tower as it stands on the site where Giovan Battista Pirelli built his first tyre factory in 1872. As the tower was the first building in Milan that was taller than the Madonnina on the Duomo, there is a small statue of the Virgin Mary on the roof of the tower as a mark of respect.

 
MILAN TRAVEL GUIDE...