From new city to Canals, the city traveled in 45 minutes.
I’ve always loved tram, like a lot of people in Milan. Especially old yellow trams with just one wagon – the historical “cart”- unmistakable Milan postcard. So beauHful to make envy a city like Los Angeles too, which some years ago arranged a research in the tram deposits in Milan and not only put them on the rails but also made the hallmark of the city. Strange desHnies.
Take a tram can be a necessity but is, most of all, a philosophy. The slow moHon, accompanied with the noise of the rails that touch on the tracks, is the best way to enjoy the city, moving from a place to another. Immersed in a past atmosphere with wooden benches and vintage furniture, surrounded to a variety of students, “Sciure” (middle age Women from Milan), young tribe or business men, is easy surrendering to contemplate the urban landscape that flows framed by the windows.
Tram number 10 offers in this sense a really emoHonal journey: from Central staHon to 24th May square, the landscape changes constantly, passing from New city skyline to neoclassic Milan, arriving to Boathouse “water city”.
Recommended route for people who want to reach Canals with no stress, with a cheap and suggesHve alternaHve to taxi and underground. But also for people who have to stay in Milan just for few hours. Taking number 10 can take advantage of a tourisHc tour, paying just the price of an urban Hcket and maybe arrive to Canals for a happy hour. Then, just taking subway from “Porta Genova” staHon to come back to Central staHon in 15 minutes. Ready to come back home taking with you a piece of Milan.
You start close to Central staHon: crossed “duca d’Aosta” square, you can reach 10 tram stop in Filzi street, near “Pirellone” entrance, first historic skyscraper in Milan, designed in the 30s by Gio’ PonH.
And 10 tram, yellow dressed or covered with adverHsing, arrives.
A`er one stop neither and the first New City skyscraper appear behind a church, in a beauHful contrast between ancient and modern, the truest soul of Milan.
Going on, is soon visible the Hp of the highest skyscraper in Milan, the Unicredit tower, that in 2014 has been the first building higher than Dome.
Next stop the tram enter in the hearth of modern Milan. Just going down to tram you can go up on Gae AulenH square, under Unicredit tower, the square became in a short Hme one of the most famous desHnaHon in Milan and home of a lot of events.
Going on, the “verHcal wood” is visible, designed by Boeri, a skyscraper full of plants that in 2015 won the Htle of best verHcal architecture in the world.
Now, let the new city image scroll behind the tracks and pass to another monument, one of the best in town: the monumental cemetery, place of memory and art – here lie the greats who made the history of the city – to take, then, Procaccini road that coast at the le` of Chinatown –
if you want to visit it you have to go down here – and on the right the huge space of the Steam factory, headquarter of alternaHve and underground events that are held in the city.
In the tree-lined avenues follow cafes and shops, before reaching “Corso Sempione”, where cross many other tram lines.
We arrive in Milan that seems to be Paris. Not only because “Corso Sempione” was wanted by Napoleon during the kingdom of Italy, but for many locals with a bistro style that animate the pedestrian area in the shadow of Arch of Peace. One of the most beauHful perspecHves of the city and one of the hoeest points of Milan’s nightlife, crowded in appeHzers hour. Here we meet an enthusiasHc company of Germans who chose the tram to visit Milan. “Great idea”, commented Mark, who with his traveling companions was so lucky to find a warm and sunny October day.
They are directed to Canals too, so I start to talk with them. Chagng in English and advise on where have lunch. Tram is so, easy to have a conversaHon, unlike the anonymous subway or crowded buses.
We reach Piazzale Baracca in front of Corso Vercelli, famous for shopping and beyond the neoclassical Milan and liberty of beauHful facades. In the boeom of the street can be seen the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses the Last Supper by Leonardo. If you didn’t book the visit, don’t descending to reach it, can’t get it without reservaHon.
And here we are in Porta Genova where my fellow go down to tram to reach the Big Canal that is there, few steps. Besides the train there is design district in Via Tortona and Via Savona. Just Choice. Tram then conHnue on Via Vigevano, full of bars, restaurants and shops. Via Corsico leads to the large Canal in few seconds. Few meters more and here opening suddenly a new scenery in city: a water mirror inside the town! Is the dock, the ancient port of Milan, where once flowed goods of every kind through the canals. Now the theme is the night entertainment, with street food stalls at every step, music, events. This is not only a nice place where walk with the sun. The perspecHve ends with Sant’Eustorgio bell tower standing in the background from the park of the two basilicas, that recall the ancient heart of Milan. We have arrive in 24th May square.