Milan, the beautiful fashion capital of Italy and regional capital of Lombardy, is a chic, metropolitan gem that is a must for anyone who likes excellent museums, impossibly cool boutiques, headquarters for famous fashion brands, stylish residents perfect for people watching, elegant and trendy cafes, bars, and restaurants to hang out in, a vibrant nightlife, and much more besides. It is the epitome of a chic urban destination and if you find a vacation rental in Milan itself or visit on day trips from a holiday rental in Lombardy, you will quickly be able to see for yourself exactly why it continues to hold its title as one of the most fashionable cities in the world. However, as you dart around to see and do all that Milan has to offer, you may need a bit of an oasis of calm to retreat to for a while and catch your breath before carrying on. If so, Sempione Park is a perfect choice: a vast and beautiful park in the centre of the city!
Established between 1890 and 1893, Sempione Park, or Parco Sempione, is made up of 47 hectares of lawns, buildings, and an artificial lake. The origins of the space go back to the fourteenth century and was originally the hunting ground located behind the castle of the ruling Visconti family. In the fifteenth century, the last of the Visconti, Filippo Maria, created the first garden and turned the grounds into something more manicured. By the eighteenth century, it had fallen into neglect with the era of foreign occupation of the city, but in the nineteenth century, the land was reconsidered under Napoleon. Napoleon imagined it as a military parade ground that would stretch from the Sforza Castle to a monumental victory arch but, with his downfall in 1815, these plans were abandoned.
Finally, at the end of that same century, the grounds were reorganised in the popular English landscape style of the time by local architect Emilio Alemagna. This would become the basis of the park as it exists today, which is also home to several buildings and institutions including: La Triennale, a space that promotes fine art and avant-garde architecture; the Aquarium of Milan; the Arena Civica, which was inaugurated under Napoleon and is where concerts and other events are held; and the Arco della Pace, a triumphal arch begun under Napoleon and completed decades later to celebrate Italian unification.
Sempione Park is filled with trees, flowers, and lots of little animals and is a popular spot to gather for tourists and locals alike. A rare place for peace and relaxation in the bustling city, it is somewhere to sit out with a coffee and relax, to chat with pals, to stroll around the stunning grounds and taking in the natural beauty of the place, to wander and admire the architectural gems and surprises that one comes across all over the park, and to attend the calendar of cultural events, from concerts to plays to fairs, that take place in the park throughout the year.
If you have found a vacation rental in Lombardy and have come to Milan for the day, or you have found a holiday rental in Milan itself and are exploring the city during your stay, be sure to set aside some time to come, catch your breath, relax, and admire the exceptional beauty of Sempione Park. It is one of the most beloved and beautiful parks in all of Italy and is one of the key places to go if you are compiling a list of the top things to see and do in Milan.
Finally, at the end of that same century, the grounds were reorganised in the popular English landscape style of the time by local architect Emilio Alemagna. This would become the basis of the park as it exists today, which is also home to several buildings and institutions including: La Triennale, a space that promotes fine art and avant-garde architecture; the Aquarium of Milan; the Arena Civica, which was inaugurated under Napoleon and is where concerts and other events are held; and the Arco della Pace, a triumphal arch begun under Napoleon and completed decades later to celebrate Italian unification.
Sempione Park is filled with trees, flowers, and lots of little animals and is a popular spot to gather for tourists and locals alike. A rare place for peace and relaxation in the bustling city, it is somewhere to sit out with a coffee and relax, to chat with pals, to stroll around the stunning grounds and taking in the natural beauty of the place, to wander and admire the architectural gems and surprises that one comes across all over the park, and to attend the calendar of cultural events, from concerts to plays to fairs, that take place in the park throughout the year.
If you have found a vacation rental in Lombardy and have come to Milan for the day, or you have found a holiday rental in Milan itself and are exploring the city during your stay, be sure to set aside some time to come, catch your breath, relax, and admire the exceptional beauty of Sempione Park. It is one of the most beloved and beautiful parks in all of Italy and is one of the key places to go if you are compiling a list of the top things to see and do in Milan.
Photo credit: Alessandro Perazzoli / CC BY-SA 4.0