Piazza Gae Aulenti is a circular, elevated square in Milan’s Porta Nuova district, surrounded by glass towers, fountains and curved walkways. Opened in 2012 and designed by architect César Pelli, it is named for Gae Aulenti, the Italian architect and designer known in part for transforming Paris’s Musée d’Orsay.
The square sits at the heart of a redevelopment that reshaped former railway land between central Milan, Garibaldi and Isola. Above it rises the spire of the UniCredit Tower, one of the defining features of the city’s modern skyline. The Bosco Verticale residential towers, with their tree-covered balconies, are a short walk away.
Piazza Gae Aulenti is worth visiting for a different view of Milan: less historic monument, more contemporary architecture and public life. Office workers, shoppers and visitors cross the pedestrian space throughout the day, while the fountains and reflections in the surrounding glass make it a rewarding stop for photographers. The square also hosts seasonal events and installations.
Come in the late afternoon to see the light change on the towers and stay for the evening illuminations; early morning is quieter for photographs. Porta Garibaldi station is nearby, with metro lines M2 and M5 and rail connections. Restaurants around the square can be expensive, so consider walking into Isola for a wider choice of places to eat.