Porta Nuova
The basics
Architecture enthusiasts will especially enjoy exploring the Porta Nuova neighborhood, home to the eponymous 19th-century city gate and important modern commercial and residential towers like the Unicredit Tower, Palazzo Lombardia, Pirelli Tower, and the Bosco Verticale. Join a Milan city tour to learn more about the noteworthy architecture in this neighborhood; Segway by night or historic tram tours are a unique and fun way to get around. The Porta Nuova neighborhood is located in the city center, not far from attractions like the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II; and most tours include visits to these highlights, as well as to top sights like the Sforza Castle and Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Things to know before you go
- The mix of historic and modern architecture in the Porta Nuova neighborhood makes for striking photos, so be sure to bring your camera.
- Walking and Segway tours of the Porta Nuova neighborhood are mostly outdoors, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
- The Porta Nuova city gate and the surrounding neighborhood are wheelchair-accessible.
- The area is home to numerous restaurants, cafès, and shops.
How to get there
The Porta Nuova neighborhood is north of the historic center, with the Stazione Garibaldi train station just to the west; the historic city gate on Via Monte Santo marks the southern border of the neighborhood. The nearest metro station is Garibaldi, and a number of bus and tram lines stop in the area.
Trip ideas
When to get there
If you would like to explore the cafès and shops in the Porta Nuova neighborhood during your tour, plan to visit during business hours. Otherwise, night tours offer excellent opportunities to take striking photos of the modern skyline.
The Award-Winning Architecture of Porta Nuova
The Porta Nuova neighborhood underwent a sweeping urban renewal project in the early 21st century, and a number of skyscrapers were built in the area that were awarded international recognition for their design. The Unicredit Tower ranked eighth in the Emporis 2012 awards for excellence in aesthetic and functional design; Palazzo Lombardia won the 2012 International Architecture Award for the best new global design; the Pirelli Tower (1958)—for decades the tallest building in Italy—was an inspiration for the MetLife Building in New York City; and the Bosco Verticale is the first example of a vertical park within a city and won the 2014 International Highrise Award.
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