Monuments Country of Milan

The circus was an ancient building connected to the imperial palace and had several important functions over time. Only a few cities could boast of owning a circus, as it was a symbol of great economic power. Its construction dates back to the 3rd century at the behest of the Emperor Maximian. The best preserved part of the circus is one of the towers.

The Monument to the Five Days was created by the great artist Giuseppe Grandi. It depicts in an allegorical way the famous “5 days of Milan”, namely the popular rebellion of the Risorgimento. Every day is represented by a female figure who expresses the feelings of the people until the moment of victory.

These are sixteen marble columns with Corinthian capitals that support the trabeation of a Roman building dating back to the 3rd century, probably the great spas wanted by the Emperor Maximian. The columns were transported to the current location in the fourth century, to complete the nascent Basilica of San Lorenzo.

The arena is a work by architect L. Canonica, inaugurated in August 1807. It was built over the ruins of Spanish fortifications, and is certainly one of the most distinct monuments in the city. You can immediately notice the neoclassical style, the arena has an elliptical shape 238 meters long and 116 meters wide. During the 19th century it was used for parties, tournaments, chariot competitions and shows, to later become the sports center of Milan in the early 1900s. Currently, the plant has been refurbished and is being used by a local football team.

The aquarium was established in 1906 and is the third oldest in Europe. It is regarded as a very special building with Milanese Art Nouveau architecture. Two years after its construction it was enriched with an Applied Biology Station. During the war it suffered a lot of damage, but following a restoration it reopened in 1963. In 2003 it underwent another restoration that turned it into a real technologically advanced aquarium.

This monument is located in the center of Piazza Sempione and is the most interesting example of neoclassical architecture in the city. In 1807 work began on the construction by Luigi Cagnola, but they were interrupted following the defeat of Napoleon. Thanks to the will of Francis I of Austria, the construction was completed in 1838. The arch is built of Baveno granite and on its top stand out a group of bronze statues representing 'The Sestiga of Peace' and four 'Victories on Horse'.

Casa Grondona was built in the late 19th century on commission of the owner of the homonymous mechanical workshop, which at that time was considered the best. The designer of the building was E. Terzaghi, who used a late Renaissance style. The entire building is structured around a fully open courtyard on the back garden.

The Colonna del Verziere is part of the most famous monuments in Milan, built in the Baroque style, it is called this way, by the famous Verziere market that was held around the column. It consists of a granite column from Baveno, with the statue of Christ on top. The shelves at its base also served as an altar for outdoor masses. It is one of the very few columns of Milan, which has survived to the present day.

The headquarters of the seminar in Milan was inaugurated in December 1564, to implement the decisions of the Council of Trent. It was originally located near the Church of St. Vitto, but a year later it was moved to an area further north. Joseph II wanted it to be the only institution that formed clerics of theology of the dioceses of Lombardy. The institution was in force until 1839, when the remaining pupils passed to the Seveso Gymnasial Seminary.

The Torretta mill is located on the border with Civesio, north of the monastery. There is almost nothing left of the initial construction, except the experimental masonry and a few panels. The roof has collapsed and the internal mechanisms and the wheel have now vanished. Abroad, it is covered with twigs and brambles. The wheel has disappeared lately, because a few years ago it was still visible.

Country house of the Arcimboldi family was built in the middle of the 15th century. Once the villa was located in the open countryside not far from the center of Milan, today it is located in a completely urbanized context. Today the villa is located in the homonymous district which takes its name from the old owners of the area, precisely the Arcimboldi.

The first information on Cascina Cavriano dates back to 1014. It was used as a refuge for the inhabitants of Milan during the conquest of Barbarossa. Today it is a rural structure dedicated to family-run agriculture. It has an agritourism section that hosts nature lovers who can also stay in touch with farm animals.

The farmhouse is part of a large agricultural complex, dating back to 1600. Originally the mill was fed by Roggia Molina, a detour of the Lambro River, and worked together with the Cascina San Gregorio Vecchio which is now across the street. The two cooperated for the processing of agricultural products. The core of the Cascina was composed of four residential buildings and three working buildings where agricultural products were preserved.

Cascina Monastero is located west of the city and is an ancient monastery adapted and used as a rural dwelling. Until the 1950s the peasants took care of and cultivated the fields, and in 1960 it was purchased by the City Council. After the renovation, it became the seat of the Council in the area. Noteworthy is the frescoes room that is often used for exhibitions, art competitions and presentations organized by the municipality.