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Porta Nuova, Milan: Bosco Verticale, Piazza Gae Aulenti and a Free Walking Route (2026)
Porta Nuova, Milan: a free two-hour walk from Piazza Gae Aulenti to Stefano Boeri’s Bosco Verticale, the BAM park and Isola, checked September 2026.
Porta Nuova, Milan is where the city shows its 21st-century face. Here, for example, you find glass towers, a raised piazza with fountains and two apartment blocks covered in trees. Not long ago, much of this area lay abandoned, with old industrial land and rail yards. Today, however, it is one of the easiest and most rewarding free walks in Milan, and it takes about two hours.
The short answer: start at Garibaldi station, climb to Piazza Gae Aulenti under the UniCredit Tower, then walk to the Bosco Verticale. These two “vertical forest” towers by Stefano Boeri date from 2014. Next, cross the BAM park. Finally, end in Isola with an aperitivo, the early-evening drink with snacks. Everything outdoors is free, and you cannot enter the residential towers.
Last updated: September 25, 2026
Porta Nuova Milan at a glance
| Stop | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Piazza Gae Aulenti | Circular piazza raised above the street, opened in 2012 | Fountains lit in color at night |
| UniCredit Tower | Spire-topped skyscraper by Pelli Clarke & Partners | Offices; view it from the piazza |
| Bosco Verticale | Two residential towers planted with trees, 2014 | Private homes; admire from outside |
| BAM – Biblioteca degli Alberi | Public park of about 90,000 m² | Free, open every day |
| Isola | Old working-class district with bars and street art | Best in the evening |
| Corso Como | Pedestrian street toward Porta Garibaldi | Shops and cafés |
What Porta Nuova is and why it matters
Porta Nuova is not a single building but a whole district. It stitched together three neighborhoods that railway lines had long divided: Garibaldi, Isola and Varesine. According to YesMilano, the city’s tourism site (checked September 2026), the piazza “sits at the heart of the Porta Nuova development”. As a result, that project renewed all three districts.
For visitors, the result is a pedestrian loop of bridges, raised walkways and gardens. As a result, you can cross the whole area without dealing with traffic. It also shows a very different Milan from the Duomo and Brera, only a few metro stops away.
Piazza Gae Aulenti and the UniCredit Tower
The heart of Porta Nuova Milan is Piazza Gae Aulenti, named after the Italian architect and designer. YesMilano describes a circular piazza about 80 meters across, raised 10 meters above the ground. In addition, it has three circular infinity fountains. The city inaugurated it on December 8, 2012.
Meanwhile, above it rises the UniCredit Tower, whose tall spire has become a symbol of the new skyline. At the foot of the tower, look for Egg, brass tubes by the artist Alberto Garutti. Then come back after dark, when colored lights play on the fountains.
The Bosco Verticale by Stefano Boeri
The Bosco Verticale, or Vertical Forest, is the most famous sight in Porta Nuova. Meanwhile, the two residential towers stand about a five-minute walk from the piazza. According to the Stefano Boeri Architetti project page (checked September 2026), the towers rise 110 and 76 meters. The studio completed them in 2014.
Their balconies hold about 800 trees, 4,500 shrubs and 20,000 plants from around 100 species. In other words, the studio says, the towers carry the vegetation of five hectares of parkland on a small footprint. The project also won the International Highrise Award in 2014.
Note, however, that the towers are private apartments, so you cannot go inside. However, the best views are from the street anyway. First, walk around both towers. Then step back into the BAM park to see them framed by trees at ground level.
BAM – Biblioteca degli Alberi park
Between the towers and the Lombardy regional government building lies BAM, the “Library of Trees”. According to VisitMilano (checked September 2026), the park covers about 90,000 square meters. It grew from a 2004 design by the Dutch studio Inside Outside, led by Petra Blaisse. It then opened in stages and was finally complete in 2018.
Above all, the park is free and open every day. For example, circular groves each feature a single tree species, and paths cross lawns and flower beds. For this reason, it is a good stop for families or for a picnic on a sunny afternoon.
Isola and Corso Como: where to end the walk
North of the towers, Isola still feels like an old working-class district. Expect low buildings, street art and neighborhood bars. It is also a good place for dinner or an aperitivo. By contrast, Corso Como, south of the piazza, is a short pedestrian street of shops and cafés.
How to visit Porta Nuova Milan
- Getting there: the area is a short walk from Garibaldi station, on metro lines 2 and 5. You can also walk from Milano Centrale station.
- Time needed: about two hours for the full loop, more if you stop in the park or for a drink.
- Best time: late afternoon, so you see the towers in daylight and the fountains lit at night.
- Cost: the piazza, the park and the streets are free.
Above all, Porta Nuova pairs well with the classic sights. Our guide to things to do in Milan covers the historic center. Similarly, our comparison of the best tours in Milan for first-timers helps you book the Duomo and the Last Supper. For the cathedral roof, compare options on our Duomo and rooftop tour page. Then plan a lake or wine day with our best day trips from Milan, or read the Lombardy travel guide.
More of Milan. Porta Nuova shows you Milan’s future. These guides help you see the rest of the city too.
- Milan itinerary: one, two or three days by area.
- Milan Duomo tickets: lift or stairs, which pass, hours and prices.
- Last Supper tickets: release dates, and what to do if it is sold out.
- aperitivo in Italy: Milan’s favorite ritual, explained.
Looking for a base in Milan? Compare places to stay below.
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Still choosing a base? Our guide to where to stay in Milan compares the areas by what you will book.
Porta Nuova Milan: frequently asked questions
Who designed the Bosco Verticale in Milan?
Stefano Boeri Architetti, with Gianandrea Barreca and Giovanni La Varra. The studio completed the two towers in 2014.
Can you go inside the Bosco Verticale?
No. The towers are private apartments, so you view them from the street and from the BAM park next door.
How do you get to Porta Nuova in Milan?
Take metro line 2 or 5 to Garibaldi station, or walk from Milano Centrale station.
Is Porta Nuova worth visiting?
Yes, if you want to see modern Milan. The walk is free, takes about two hours and contrasts well with the Duomo and Brera.
When did Piazza Gae Aulenti open?
The city inaugurated it on December 8, 2012, according to YesMilano.
Plan your Milan visit
From the Duomo to the new skyline
Compare tours of the Duomo, the Last Supper and the lakes, with prices and ratings read on Viator.
Book it: experiences for this trip
Matched to this article by place and interest, then ordered by Viator rating and number of reviews (checked September 2026). Prices and availability are shown live on Viator.
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