The Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli is the oldest city park in Milano.  It is named after the journalist/writer Indro Montanelli, who used to spend his mornings there.

I love wandering around this park.  Walking along the pathways, one encounters art, waterfalls, monuments — all in a peaceful, green setting, far removed from the bustling city just a few feet away.

Inside of the park is a monument dedicated to Indro Montanelli.  It is found quite near the spot where the writer was shot in the legs by the Brigate Rosse, as he was walking to work.

Along the edge of the park, you will find the Museum of Natural History.  I didn’t go inside of the museum, preferring to stay out in the fresh air, but I will visit it at some point in the future, when I return to Milano.

Just past in the museum, if you continue walking in the park, you come upon the monument to Antonio Stoppani — a Catholic priest, hero, geologist and palaeontologist.  His most famous work was “Il Bel Paese”, which was a book on geology and natural history.  He is considered a hero for his actions during the siege of Milano, in 1848, referred to now as the Five Days of Milano.  He was instrumental in sending messages out of the city with the use of hot air balloons, letting the rest of Italia know what was happening in Milano under the Austrian Empire.

The Ulrico Hoepli Planetarium is the largest in Italy.

Near the planetarium is the Monument to Ruggiero Giuseppe Boscovich, one of the founders of the Astronomical Observatory of Brera.

The entire park area was once the property and private gardens of the Dugnani Family.  Their Palazzo sits on the edge of the park, opposite from the Museum of Natural History.

Outside of the Palazzo is a statue of the composer Rossini.

At the edge of the park, in Piazza Cavour, you will find the monument to Camillo Benso, the Conte di Cavour.  He was the first Prime Minister of Italia.

A statue by Miro stands in front of the Palazzo del Senato.

The Palazzo is now home to the State Archives.

Next up: a road-trip with my friend Giovanna and her aunt, to their family’s home town of Gessopalena, in Abruzzo.

Note: this blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations which may appear.  If you have enjoyed this post, please check out our archives for more posts from bella Milano, as well as other Italian destinations.  Grazie!