Milan - Central Station

A little way east of the Piazza Cavour in Milan, to the west of the Natural History Museum, stands the Neo-Classical Villa Comunale (or Villa Reale; 1790), which houses the Galleria d'Arte Moderna, a museum of modern art (19th and 20th century painting including works by Carrà, De Chirico, Modigliani, Morandi, etc.). In a separate hall is the Museum Marino Marini (paintings and sculpture). From Piazza Cavour the Via Alessandro Manzoni runs south to the Piazza della Scala.

In the station is the Museo delle Cere (Wax Museum), with wax figures of famous Italian and foreign personalities.

From the Piazza della Repubblica the Via Turati runs south to the Piazza Cavour, a busy traffic intersection at the southwest corner of the beautiful Giardini Pubblici, the Municipal Gardens laid out in 1783-86. On the southeast side of Piazza Cavour are three tower blocks, including the 22-story Centro Svizzero (completed 1952).

From the station Via Pisani runs southwest to the spacious Piazza della Repubblica, laid out from 1931 onwards on the site of the old railroad station and now surrounded by huge modern buildings, including the 31-story "Grattacielo di Milano", 114m/376ft high, built in 1955. From the northwest corner of the square the wide Viale della Liberazione leads to the Porta Garibaldi Station, 1km/0.75mi away, which relieves pressure on the Central Station.

Facing the station, to the southwest, is the 32-story Pirelli Building (1955-59), 127m/419ft high (conducted tours).