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Piazza Gae Aulenti

📍 Piazza Gae Aulenti, Milan, Italy
Piazza Gae Aulenti
1 photos
4.4/ 5.0
★★★★☆

Introduction

Named for the late architect Gae Aulenti, this circular plaza rose with the Porta Nuova redevelopment in 2012, lifted several metres above the streets so traffic flows beneath. Glass towers of the UniCredit complex ring it, the 231-metre main spire holding Italy's-tallest status for years, while the famed Vertical Forest twin towers stand a street away. A ring of water hugs the plaza's rim, floating the towers' reflections - Milan's new-skyline drawing room. After dark the light strips switch on and the city's most modern night scene assembles.

✨ Highlights

1
Raised Circle
The plaza floats above the traffic - a balcony over Milan's newest district.
2
Italy's Tallest
The 231-metre UniCredit spire towers close enough to touch, glass answering glass.
3
Vertical Forest View
The famous tree-clad twin towers stand a street away, three minutes on foot.
4
Water Ring
The surrounding pool mirrors the towers and mists by day, glows by night.
5
Night Light Show
After dark the towers' light strips turn the square futuristic.

🛈 Practical Info

→Cost：The plaza is free; shops and restaurants charge their own way.
→Getting there：Metro Lines 2 and 5 to Garibaldi FS, then about five minutes on foot.
→Timing：Golden hour for the Vertical Forest, full night for the tower lights.
→Pairings：Corso Como's night strip and Isola's trattorias both walk close.
→Duration：Thirty minutes for the photo, two hours with the neighbourhoods.

💡 Tips

• Shoot the Vertical Forest from the pool on the plaza's east side, best in afternoon light.
• The elevated platform catches every gust - bring a windproof layer in winter.
• Supermarket and toilets hide in the mall's basement level for quick supplies.
• Weekend nights get thick with people; restaurants without bookings mean queues.
• Isola is minutes away on foot, and its bars feel far more local than the plaza's.

FAQ

Any practical tips for visiting Piazza Gae Aulenti?

Shoot the Vertical Forest from the pool on the plaza's east side, best in afternoon light. The elevated platform catches every gust - bring a windproof layer in winter.

Information on this page is compiled from public sources. Opening hours, ticket prices and other details may change — please verify with official sources before your visit.