Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Arena Civica
The Arena Civica was Napoleon's mini-colosseum, which he opened in typic-
ally flamboyant style with a chariot race in 1807. Built by Luigi Canonica, its
ingenious engineering allowed it to be flooded with water from nearby canals
to stage mock sea battles. Now it hosts football and rugby matches, along with
the annual Notturna di Milano, a track and field event held in September.
Acquario Civico
You'll be transfixed by the aquatic Art-Nouveau facade, but kids will race
ahead to see Lombardy's fish on display at Europe's third-oldest
aquarium
(
02 8846 5750;
www.acquariocivicomilano.eu
; Viale Gadio 2; admission free; 9am-1pm &
2-5.30pm Tue-Sun; Lanza)
. It turns out mountain streams make for rather pre-
dictable silver fish, but that only makes the red anemones more flashy.
Bar Bianco
Ricardo Griffini's
Bar Bianco
( 02 8699 2026;
www.bar-bianco.com
; Parco Sempi-
one; 7pm-1am Wed & Thu, to 2am Fri & Sat; Lanza)
, situated right in the heart of
the park, was built for the Tenth Triennale (1954). Still popular for
aperitivo,
it is the most down-to-earth of the Parco bars. The patio seats are good for
people-watching, but aim for the upper terrace; it's like having a cocktail in a
treehouse.
Ponte delle Sirenette
The 'Bridge of Mermaids' is the park's official lovers' lane. It originally
spanned the Naviglio della Martesana (Martesan Canal), which once linked
Milan to the river Adda. Filled in during the 1930s, the canal became Via Mel-
chiorre Gioia and the pretty bridge with its cast-iron mermaids was trans-
