Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Contemporary Scene
Milan's creative reputation is usually linked to the fashion and design industry, but the
city's contemporary art scene is, with neighbouring Turin, the most dynamic in Italy. The
majority of Italy's living artists choose to call Milan home, at least between sojourns in
New York or Berlin, and there's a network of commercial galleries gathered under the
StartMilano (
www.start-mi.net
) umbrella. Most galleries once clustered in Brera, near the
city's famous art school, though they are now spread around the city. Lambrate's Via Ven-
tura is emerging with a handful of excellent galleries, including seminal Galleria Massimo
De Carlo.
The Milanese often carp that despite claims they are Italy's most modern city, they've
not been able to produce a significant building since Giò Ponti erected the Torre Pirelli.
That's all about to change: the sound of jackhammers around Stazione Garibaldi signifies
the emergence of the new Porta Nuova neighbourhood with César Pelli's shardlike sky-
scraper and apartments with hanging gardens by Stefano Boeri. In addition, the 420-acre
CityLife and Expo site in Rho and Pero promises a futuristic new skyline from internation-
al archi-stars Zaha Hadid, Arata Isozaki, Pier Paolo Maggiora and Daniel Libeskind.
