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)

Read more

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)

Read more

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.

Read more

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.

Read more

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.

Read more

Take me here: The green heart of Milan

Guide Valmalenco

In the Valmalenco Guides group you can find professionals who can accompany you on your adventures whether you are an expert, or simply dream of taking your first step.

Active & Green

Bergamo Valle di Scalve, nature, peace and quiet

Active & Green

Hiking with kids in Lombardy - Trails for tourists and athletes

Hiking is an excellent way to enjoy exercise, and Lombardy has some amazing trails for kids and adults to explore in winter. Find out more.

Active & Green

Livignese Park

Park of considerable environmental interest, for the naturalness of the typically alpine landscape and for the richness of the fauna patrimony.

Active & Green

Gardens Brescia

Let yourself be enchanted by the splendor of the green and the thousand colors of the nature of the gardens of Brescia

Active & Green

Four Panoramic Walks by Lake Como

Active & Green

Places suspended between land and water

Between the trails and panoramic views of the Lombardy countryside, nature meets expanses of water, for a truly unique experience.

Active & Green

E-bikes in Lombardy

The bicycle is definitely the ideal way to discover an area, thanks to the e-bike, cycling tourism is just within everyone's reach!

Active & Green

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

Active & Green

Brughiera Briantea Park

Park that extends in the territory between Milan and Como and represents one of the largest forest areas of the Lombard plain.

Active & Green

Gardens Monza

Relax and nature among the rose gardens in Villa Reale of Monza and in the parks of the province.

Active & Green

Dicovering Monte Lesima

Trekking in the province of Pavia

Active & Green

Foliage in Lombardy

From Via Francigena to the Cadorna Line. Discover where to see the autumn colours in Lombardy

Active & Green

Gardens Bergamo

An unforgettable journey through the wonders of the Bergamo landscape

Active & Green

Gera d'Adda: legends flowing between Adda and Milan

Between the Adda and Martesana rivers, places tell the story of Lombardy's history and industriousness

Active & Green

Birdwatching in Lombardy

Parks, nature reserves and oases where you can take a glimpse into the secret lives of birds

Active & Green

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

Active & Green

Lago d'Iseo - Best trails

Discover Lake Iseo's best trails with the new trekking guide!

Active & Green

Boat trips on Lombardy's rivers

The waterways of Lombardy are perfect to discover the unspoilt green heart of the region

Active & Green

The trail of memories and labours

This trail was dedicated to the memory of the inhabitants of Castione who, in the past generations, walked along this path carrying heavy pack baskets. The path linked the highest part of the town to the valley floor and allowed people to carry out farm works.