Milan – North Central Milan

<< Milan

North Central Milan is the area of Municipio 1 located north of the historic center of the city. This part of Milan includes the Castello Sforzesco and the large Parco Sempione, and the neighborhoods located between this park and the Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli.

✪ Castello Sforzesco

The Castello Sforzesco is a large fortified complex located just outside the historical center of Milan. Originally built by the ruling Sforza family in the 15th century over a previous medieval fort, it was later expanded several times, becoming one of the symbols of Milan. The castle now hosts a series of rich museums. Among these is the Museum of Ancient Art (Museo d’Arte Antica), which houses several sculptures and artworks ranging from the Roman age to the Renaissance. This museum also includes various medieval weapons, tapestries, and a hall frescoed by Leonardo da Vinci. A separate museum is dedicated to the Rondanini Pietà sculpture by Michelangelo. The Pinacoteca del Castello Sforzesco is instead an art gallery housing numerous paintings dating between the Late Middle Ages and the 18th century. The castle also houses the Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio) and another collection of ancient archaeological findings. Some areas of the castle host the Museum of Musical Instruments (Museo degli Strumenti Musicali), featuring a large collection of musical instruments from all over the world and spanning several millennia, and the Antique Furniture and Wooden Sculpture Museum (Museo dei Mobili e delle Sculture Lignee), which houses several ancient furnishings. Also part of this museum complex are the Applied Arts Collection (Raccolte d’Arte Applicata), which includes various tapestries, glassworks, and other pieces of applied arts, and the Raccolte Extraeuropee, a collection of artworks and objects from all over the world. Finally, the castle also hosts the historic libraries Biblioteca Trivulziana and Biblioteca d’Arte, and the Achille Bertarelli Civic Collection of Prints (Civica Raccolta delle Stampe Achille Bertarelli), a large collection of historic prints.

✪ Parco Sempione

Parco Sempione is a large public park located behind the Castello Sforzesco. Originally the gardens of the castle, the area was later abandoned and transformed into a park in the 19th century. Now it is one of the most popular areas in Milan, and it features numerous attractions. The park houses various sculptures and it features the Branca Tower (Torre Branca), an iron panoramic tower. The historic stadium Arena Civica is located at the northeastern end of the park. Parco Sempione is closed to the northwest by the Arco della Pace, a monumental triumphal arch erected in the early 19th century. The Civic Aquarium of Milan and the Palazzo dell’Arte are also located inside the park.

✪ Palazzo dell’Arte

Palazzo dell’Arte is a palace erected in the 1930s inside Parco Sempione. The palace is the seat of the Triennale di Milano, a museum mostly dedicated to contemporary art, which every three years hosts the Milan Triennal exhibition of art and design. The museum also includes the Triennale Design Museum, one of the most important design museums in the world.

Civic Aquarium of Milan

The Civic Aquarium of Milan (Acquario Civico di Milano) is an aquarium located in Parco Sempione. Inaugurated as part of the Milan Interational in 1906, it is one of the oldest aquariums in Europe. The aquarium includes a wide range of aquatic creatures and plants living in different environments, mostly from Italy.

Basilica of San Simpliciano

The Basilica of San Simpliciano is a church of Paleochristian origins erected in the 4th century, and one of the oldest churches in Milan. The church has been reworked in Romanesque style during the Late Middle Ages, with further restorations carried out in the 19th century. The basilica features various frescoes and artworks of Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical style.

Church of San Marco

The Church of San Marco is a religious building erected starting in the 13th century in Milan. Originally built in Gothic style, it was later reworked with Baroque decorations and finally restored in the 19th century. The church features various frescoes, artworks, and funerary monuments.