Street Art In Milan I

Milan is known internationally as an important industrial centre and the fashion capital of Italy. Of course, as it is an Italian city, it is known for its art but doesn't have quite the reputation and glorious past of other cities. However, it does have a rather exceptionally rich tradition in street art.

So much so, in fact, that you can take a specific guided tour around the city in which you will be informed of the history of street art in Milan and be shown some of the most important works.

Even if you don't take the tour, there's something to see around every corner so merely wandering around with an ice-cream or coffee in hand becomes a fantastic activity in its own right.

Find a holiday rental in Milan and discover the art of its streets.

One of the artists that you will see most around the city is a local artist who goes by the moniker of Never2501. He has worked both alone and with others in large-scale collaborative works.

At the Fondazione Bertini on Via Luigi Caroli you can find a collaborative mural produced with Pixel Pancho, Martina Merlini, Moneyless and GGT.

If you're looking for solo work, however, head to Via Emilio Gola where you'll find around 12 works by his hand.

Nearby is the area of Bovisa which is one of the locations which best represents the street art of Milan and where you'll be able to see lots of great examples. Bovisa is populated also by the remnants of 19th century factory buildings, industrial factories, cute streets and the railway which adds to the urban romanticism of the area. Here you'll find works by Australian artist James Reka (a large mural which was recently completed on Via Degli Imbriani 54) as well as Never2501, Nemo and other local street artists. Often, you'll even be able to see them at work on pieces.

Leoncavallo should also be on your itinerary for street art in Milan. It is one of the largest, oldest and most famous ‘centri sociali’ in Milan and has the highest concentration of great street art pieces in the entire city. You'll see everything from massive murals taking up whole walls to smaller works dotted all over.

Isola is a close second to Leoncavallo for quality and quantity of works. As it is a residential neighbourhood, the street art is more subtle but no less fascinating. Many works are commissioned pieces so Sunday is the best day to visit the area as this is when stores have their shutters closed and these works are actually visible. Isola is famous for these collaborative commissioned pieces, and many top street artists have worked together to produce them. In Piazzale Archinto, for example, just outside an auto-repair shop, there is a work with Zibe’s Arnold in the centre, Ozmo’s Lady of Guadalupe, Microbo’s micro organisms and Santi’s balconies.

This is only a fraction of the works that you can see on the streets of Milan so make sure to read our second article as well to find even more stunning pieces of art in the city!