The green heart of Milan

Culture and nature: in the heart of Milan, our itinerary explores the city's most beautiful gardens and green areas

Fashion, art, culture, history. Milan is the perfect destination for those looking for something new and different. But it also provides much more.

The gardens and green areas in the heart of the city are the perfect place to enjoy a little relaxation, an afternoon with friends, or a walk full of artistic delights and reflections in a natural setting, surrounded by the skyscrapers and nightlife that have always characterised the region's capital city.

Street after street, this itinerary will lead you on a journey of discovery to unique green corners in the midst of the frenzy of the city, departing from Via dei Giardini and arriving at Via Mozart, relaxing in the natural beauty of Milan's most beautiful parks.

A camera, packed lunch, and a good book: prepare your backpack and enjoy the green side of Lombardy's metropolis.

1. Perego Garden — The walk starts on Via dei Giardini, where you will find the first stop on this green itinerary. We are in front of the Perego Garden, an historic "English" style garden that was turned into a public park in the 1950s. The rocky seats positioned along the path, the flower beds, and the interesting tree specimens - including maples, yews, the Magnolia grandiflora and the Celtis australis - give the park a truly romantic atmosphere. (ph: Comune di Milano)

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2. Via Senato Library Garden — Turning into Via Senato, along the circle of the Naviglio, we find ourselves in front of the Via Senato Library Foundation. Waiting for us inside is a small eighteenth-century garden, which has also served as a stage for productions by the "Teatro di Verdura": these events range from ancient prose to emerging shows, from classical music to jazz, and readings from the great classics, transforming this small green area into a timeless place full of emotions. (ph: Biblioteca di Via Senato)

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3. Villa Belgiojoso Garden — Continuing our walk towards Via Marina, we will reach Via Palestro, where, on the left, we find the entrance to the third stop on our itinerary: the Garden of Villa Belgiojoso. Once the garden of Villa Comunale, it is a stunning example of an "English" garden, designed in the late 1700s by Leopold Pollark and restored in 1999. As soon as we enter we can spot important tree species such as the false lotus and the coffee tree.

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4. Indro Montanelli Public Gardens — Located in front of the Belgiojoso Garden is the main entrance to the Indro Montanelli Public Gardens, the fourth stop on this green itinerary. Before us we find a prime example of an urban park for public use, designed in the late 1700s by the architect Giuseppe Piermarini with a "French" layout, and later revised by the architects Giuseppe Balzaretti and Emilio Alemagna in a landscape style.

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5. Villa Necchi Garden — Leaving the park, we cross Corso Venezia to reach Via Mozart, where we find the final destination of our itinerary: the garden of Villa Necchi. It can't be seen from the road as the old owners, the Necchi Campiglio family, erected walls to surround their property.

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Take me here: The green heart of Milan

Il sentiero di Leonardo

Un percorso a piedi di 540 Km sui luoghi leonardeschi

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Gema promenade - source of the Frascesca

Easy route and especially suitable for families with children

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In search of the king of mushrooms

Mushroom hunting in Lombardy. Three foolproof destinations for gathering the most delicious porcini mushrooms: Valtellina, Val Brembana, and Val d'Intelvi

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Valmalenco sports centers

Valmalenco offers all nature lovers and sports enthusiasts various facilities-sports centers, each with its own special features.

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Five panoramic viewing points in Brianza

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Alpe Meriggio, Alpe Campo Cervé and Casera Lake - Around Alpine Pastures

Albosaggia

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Foppe di trezzo

Trip outside the town of Trezzo d'Adda to discover a small but very suggestive WWF oasis.

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Monumental trees in Lombardy

The art of knowing trees in Lombardy

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Oasis of San Giuliano Milanese

Urban oasis of San Giuliano Milanese: the demonstration of the green that wins in the middle of the cement.

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The High Route of Valmalenco – 3rd stage

Alpe Ventina (1960 m) - Forbicina (1656 m) - Val Sissone - Rif. Del Grande (2600 m) - Chiareggio (1612 m)

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The ReGiS: Network of Historic Gardens.

A Network for the enhancement and proper management of historic gardens and parks open to the public in Lombardy

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Walks for everyone

Besides many shelters of Valmalenco, easily attainable from families and who approaches to the world of hiking for the first time, we signal some simple itineraries suitable for all.

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Doing sports in Varese

From rowing on the lake to gliding. From cycling to trekking. From golf to horse riding. Tips for playing sports in Varese

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A green week in Valtellina

Escape to the mountains just a two-hour drive from Milan for a rural retreat with trekking, typical pizzoccheri pasta and towns that are absolute hidden gems