{"id":4358,"date":"2026-10-26T15:01:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T14:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studioinnmilano.it\/?p=4358"},"modified":"2026-10-26T15:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T14:01:17","slug":"porta-nuova-milan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studioinnmilano.it\/en\/porta-nuova-milan\/","title":{"rendered":"Porta Nuova Milan: what to see, how to get there and where to stay"},"content":{"rendered":"

Porta Nuova Milan is the district that changed the skyline of the city: a cluster of glass towers, public squares and green spaces built around Porta Garibaldi station, only a short walk from the old streets of Isola and Brera. Many visitors know it from photographs of the Bosco Verticale or Piazza Gae Aulenti, but few realise how much there is to see on foot, or how easily it connects to the rest of Milan. This guide explains what Porta Nuova is, what to see there, how to get around and where to stay if you want to be close to it.<\/p>\n

What is Porta Nuova in Milan?<\/h2>\n

The name can cause some confusion, because it refers to two things. The first is the historic gate. According to the English-language encyclopedia entry on the district<\/a>, the area takes its name from a Neoclassical gate built in 1810 on the same site. The second is the modern business and residential district that grew up around it, which is what most travellers mean today when they search for Porta Nuova.<\/p>\n

The regeneration project began in the late 1990s with the developer Gerald D. Hines and was approved in 2005. The masterplan was shared between three studios: Pelli Clarke Pelli, Boeri Studio and Kohn Pedersen Fox. The result is one of the most modern urban areas on the continent, with skyscrapers, offices, residential towers, cycle paths, pedestrian zones and parks that have transformed what used to be a disused railway area.<\/p>\n

It is a district you can enjoy in different ways. Architecture lovers come for the towers and the public spaces. Business travellers come for the offices and the rail connections at Garibaldi. Families and couples come for the park, the squares and the evening atmosphere. And because the area is compact, you can cover most of it in a single afternoon.<\/p>\n

The three areas of Porta Nuova: Garibaldi, Varesine and Isola<\/h2>\n

The project is divided into three parts, each with its own character. Understanding them makes it much easier to plan a visit.<\/p>\n

Garibaldi<\/h3>\n

Garibaldi is the largest section, designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli and covering more than 230,000 square metres. It is organised around the UniCredit Tower complex and Piazza Gae Aulenti. The main tower reaches 231 metres including its spire, and at the time it was completed it was the tallest building in Italy. This is the part of Porta Nuova where you will see the most glass and steel, and it is also where the main train and metro connections are.<\/p>\n

Varesine<\/h3>\n

Varesine, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, covers about 85,000 square metres and runs towards Via Melchiorre Gioia. Its best-known building is the Diamond Tower. The area is mostly offices and residences, with a more orderly, business-like feel than Garibaldi, and the park connects it to the rest of the district.<\/p>\n

Isola<\/h3>\n

Isola, designed by the Boeri Studio, is the smallest of the three, at around 31,500 square metres, but probably the most photographed. It is home to the Bosco Verticale, the pair of residential towers covered in trees and plants. Beyond the towers lies the old neighbourhood of Isola itself, with low houses, workshops and trattorias. You can see how the area fits into the wider city on our location page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What to see in Porta Nuova<\/h2>\n

Piazza Gae Aulenti<\/h3>\n

The centre of the district is a circular, raised piazza designed by the architect Cesar Pelli, in the business district near Garibaldi station. It is the symbol of contemporary Milan, and from here you can enjoy one of the best views of the skyline. The square hosts music events and public gatherings throughout the year, and it is surrounded by shops, caf\u00e9s and restaurants. It is a good place to start a walk, because the other main sights are all within a few minutes.<\/p>\n

The skyscrapers<\/h3>\n

You do not need to go inside the buildings to appreciate them. Walk around the base of the UniCredit Tower, look up at the spire, and then turn to see the other towers from the piazza. The contrast with the older buildings nearby is part of the interest: a few streets away you will find nineteenth-century houses and traditional shops. The city is happy to show this mix, and it is one of the reasons Porta Nuova works so well as a district for visitors.<\/p>\n

Bosco Verticale<\/h3>\n

The Vertical Forest is made up of two residential towers covered in thousands of trees and plants. They are private homes, so you cannot visit, but they are easy to see from the street and from the park. They were designed by the Boeri Studio and have become one of the most recognisable symbols of Milan. The best time for photographs is in the morning or late afternoon, when the light is softer.<\/p>\n

BAM, the Biblioteca degli Alberi<\/h3>\n

The park at the heart of the district is a public space with no fences. The official site describes BAM as a public park owned by the City of Milan<\/a> that connects Piazza Gae Aulenti, the Isola district, Via Melchiorre Gioia and the Varesine promenade. It has around 500 trees arranged in 22 circular forests, with more than 100 botanical species and about 135,000 aromatic plants, shrubs and bulbs. The name means “library of trees”. It is a very pleasant place to walk, sit or run, and it is an easy way to move between the different parts of the district without using roads.<\/p>\n

Palazzo Lombardia and its viewpoint<\/h3>\n

Palazzo Lombardia, the seat of the regional government, is a few minutes from the Pirelli skyscraper and near both Milano Centrale and Garibaldi stations. On Sundays the Lombardy Region has opened the building to the public, with access to the Belvedere on the 39th floor and a view over the city. The visit is not guided. Opening arrangements can change, so check the official Lombardy Region website before you plan your day around it.<\/p>\n

Corso Como and the surrounding streets<\/h3>\n

Corso Como is one of the most fashionable streets in Milan, with bars, restaurants and boutiques, and it is next to Piazza Gae Aulenti. In the evening it is one of the liveliest places in the district, so it is a natural choice for an aperitif or dinner after a day of walking. The nearby streets are quieter, and a few minutes on foot will take you to Brera or Isola.<\/p>\n

Things to do in Porta Nuova by interest<\/h2>\n