Between Sustainability and Natural Parks in Milan: Summer in the City Has Never Been So “Green”

Summer 2023 has arrived, and luckily for us, it brings a refreshing touch of… green. For those stuck in Milan during the hottest months – whether to visit the city or for work reasons – parks and green spaces represent real oases of relaxation, allowing you to disconnect from the typical Milanese frenzy, to try to cool down and breathe some clean, fresh air.

Milan, a city devoted to environmental sustainability, offers numerous parks and green spaces to create a lush and welcoming atmosphere. Boasting almost 18 km² of parks, Milan ranks first in Italy in terms of square metres of green per citizen. According to a recent estimate by Legambiente, Milan has an extraordinary ratio of 34 trees per 100 inhabitants.

The parks in Milan are ideal places to relax, engage in sports activities, or simply go for a lovely bike ride, immersing yourself in the surrounding nature. Visitors can enjoy the benefits of connecting with nature and the rejuvenating atmosphere that Milan’s parks and green spaces offer. These places represent an important testament to the city’s commitment to environmental sustainability, as they are cared for and protected to preserve their ecological value.

Milan is a city that embraces environmental sustainability and offers various parks and green spaces that invite residents and visitors to enjoy their beauty and serenity. These same principles have inspired the Vertical Forest of the Hotel VIU Milan, created by AG&P Greenscape, a multidisciplinary laboratory for public space and garden design committed to creating “landscapes to shape and give meaning and emotional impact to the places we live, and improve our quality of life by transforming and regenerating our surroundings through nature and technology.”

The two facades of the Hotel VIU Milan are a true tribute to sustainability and nature, with the hotel’s minimalist and eco-friendly architecture elegantly “inhabited” by jasmine, ivy, climbing roses and many other plant species. Arising from sustainable architecture and the city’s environmental devotion, here are Hotel VIU Milan’s tips for exploring the most interesting green spaces in Milan, easily accessible from our hotel.

Parks in Milan: Recommendations from the Hotel VIU Milan for the Best Green Destinations in Summer 2023

Discover the majestic Sempione Park’s shaded paths, lakes, and green areas, ideal for a walk or a picnic and located just a few steps away from the Hotel VIU Milan. Explore the modern CityLife Park, a sustainable design masterpiece that will leave you breathless. Don’t forget to visit the Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano (Library of Trees), where you can immerse yourself in a unique fusion of culture and nature. Let yourself be enchanted by the Orto Botanico di Brera  (Brera Botanical Garden), a hidden gem in the heart of Milan’s historic centre. Last but not least, if you’re looking for a place of great beauty and history, the Indro Montanelli Public Gardens will offer you an unforgettable experience.

Here are the details on how to start this green adventure in Milan from the Hotel VIU Milan. As ambassadors of sustainability and love for nature, these are our recommendations for the best green destinations in summer 2023.

• Sempione Park
• CityLife Park
• BAM, Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano (Library of Trees)
• Orto Botanico di Brera (Brera Botanical Garden)
• Indro Montanelli Public Gardens
• Vertical Forest of the Hotel VIU Milan

Enjoy reading and happy green walks.

The main parks of Milan in detail

Parco Sempione, an authentic emblem of Milan, in the heart of the city, near the magnificent Castello Sforzesco, is an enchanting English-style garden with secular trees, romantic paths and picturesque bridges. Sempione Park green distance from the Hotel VIU Milan: 6 min by bike, 17 min on foot

Located in the Tre Torri area, within the renowned homonymous complex, the CityLife Park is a green gem where lush meadows alternate with wooded areas characterized by imposing beech trees, elegant ferns and evergreens, creating an enchanting atmosphere. Green distance of the CityLife Park from the Hotel VIU Milan: 9 min by bike, 25 min on foot.

The Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano, located between the Garibaldi and Isola districts, is a veritable casket of vegetation reminiscent of a library. With more than 100 different species, the park is home to 500 trees arranged in 22 rings, as well as 135,000 plants that create a lush and suggestive atmosphere. Green distance of Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano from Hotel VIU Milan: 5 min by bike, 15 min on foot.

Located in the heart of the homonymous district of Milan, the Brera Botanical Garden is an enchanting green paradise with about 300 different species of plants, which offers a romantic and relaxing atmosphere among the buildings of the city centre. This historic garden, which covers an area of ​​5,000 square meters, has been officially recognized as an Extended Museum, due to its collection of plants and its historical significance. Green distance of the Brera Botanical Garden from the Hotel VIU Milan : 10 min by bike, 27 min on foot.

Located in a privileged position in Porta Venezia, the Indro Montanelli Gardens represent the first public park in Milan, wanted by the Austrians back in the 1700s.

This unique space was dedicated to the journalist Indro Montanelli in 2002, to honor his contribution to Italian culture and society. Inside this charming English garden, you can get lost among the majesty of centuries-old trees, such as the monumental metasequoia, or admire the oaks, cedars and rows of horse chestnuts that adorn the landscape. Every corner of the Indro Montanelli gardens reserves surprises and enchanting discoveries. Green distance of the Indro Montanelli Gardens from the Hotel VIU Milan H: 12 min by bike, 24 min on foot.

Vertical Forest of Hotel VIU Milan

Last but not least, the Vertical Forest of Hotel VIU Milan, created by AG&P Greenscape, is a sustainable architectural element in line with the parks of Milan and the green mission that the Italian city has now taken on in the European panorama.

The main objective of AG&P Greenscape was to ensure a sustainable intervention, both in terms of maintenance and the quality and longevity of the vegetation. To make this unique project happen, the external stair ramps at the ends of the building, behind the blind walls, were utilised. Steel walkways with metal troughs were constructed and connected to each other on the outside. This allowed for a mix of vegetation: some plants cascade from the troughs, others climb using the steel cables that connect the walkways, and others form dense shrubs for optimal coverage. A stable ecosystem has been created, taking into account the varying sun exposures of the two 500 square metre walls (northeast and southwest), which has attracted various bird species.

The technical solutions adopted have contributed to the creation of a complex vertical ecosystem that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding environment and gives a distinctive identity to the area. Of all the proposed destinations, it is undoubtedly the one closest to Hotel VIU Milan