The skylines and views of Milano (2008)

ATTENTION! This text and the photos are from 2008. Update 2023: the skyscrapers mentioned above are now all completed, so a new visit to Milan was made briefly in 2023.

Milano has a few skyscrapers that have been popping up around the famous Pirelli Tower, that is considered to be the first modern skyscraper in Europe, and is located close to the central station. Most of them were built in the 1950s, but in this area, a new generation of taller skyscrapers are under construction, four of them will beat Pirelli's 127m. And even taller ones are planned, that could be up to 310m tall! For example, Regione Lombardia will be 163m tall and Torre Varesine 1, the new tallest, will be 175m tall, when completed in 2009. So from 2009, Milan can start to compete with Naples about the best skyline of Italy. The rest of Milano hasn't many tall buildings though, except for the Gothic Cathedral and the famous Torre Velasca in the city center. Milano also have 4 high TV and observation towers, from which one of them I have taken pictures of the skyline.

The skyline from Torre Branca:

Torre Branca is a 108 m tall very thin tower in the park Sempione in west part of central Milano. Its external glass elevator takes you up to the top for just 3 euro. It was built in 1933.

To the left you can see Ferrovio dello Stato 1 & 2 and a new skyscraper under construction ub the middle Pirelli Tower and to the right Torre Breda.

In the middle you can see the 127m tall Pirelli Tower from 1958, that have been Milano's tallest building until 2008.
To the right is the 117m tall Torre Breda and to the left in the distance is Galfa Building and Servizi Tecnici Comunali. In the front you can see Arena Civica.

In the distance: The Gothic Cathedral (107m) and Torre Velasca (106m). In the front: Castello Sforzesco.

Ferrovio dello Stato 1 & 2 from 1989 and 1992 are both 98 m tall, but have somewhat different designs. To the right is Galfa Building (129m) and the 90m tall Servizi Tecnici Comunali.

Castello Sforzesco and Parco Sempione from above.

Closeup of Castello Sforzesco.

The southwest outskirts of Milan. In the distance you can see the city's tallest structure: Torre delle Telecomunicazioni Milano Sud from 1990, 185 m to the top of the antenna (171 m to the spire).

Gemini Center 1 & 2 from 1995 far in the outskirts. 96 & 98 m tall, both have 21 floors.

Torre RAI, another TV tower, that looks like Torre Branca, where the photo was taken from. It is 160m tall.

Piazza Sempione with the Arch of Triumph unfortunately currently under renovation...

Cemetery Monumentale.

Stadio San Siro (officially Stadio Giuseppe Meazza) from 1926 (!) is home to three of Italy's most successful football teams and is one of the world's most famous stadiums.

Skyline in the outskirts from the train:

The skyline of a glass highrise complex in the northern outskirts of Milano.

Skyline from the entrance to Cemetery Monumentale:

From the entrance to the large and beautiful Cemetery Monumentale, we got this unexpected skyline consisting of the 98 m tall Ferrovio dello Stato 1 & 2, the new AC Hotel Milano and a clock tower.

You can also see a new skyscraper u/c, possibly Torre Varesine.

Here you can also see Torre Breda in the far right distance.

Skyline from the front of the central station:

Pirelli Tower, Milan's tallest building for a long time (will change in 2009) and Galfa Building. Seen from the piazza Duca d'Aosta in front of the central staion.

Towards the boulevard Pisani. Another skyline seen from the same piazza, with Torre Breda in the center.