The Teatro Fossati was founded by Carlo Fossati, hence it’s name.  The theater dates from 1859 and was designed by the architect Fermo Zuccari.  When it first opened, it was an open-air theater.  The facade facing Corso Garibaldi, which is featured in the pictures both above and below, houses two statues which are the work of Andrea Boni, and which depict Garibaldi and his wife, Anita.  This was the first theater in the city to experiment with electric lighting in 1881.  In the late 1920’s, the space was used as a cinema and then, eventually it was closed.  It was given new life in the 1970’s, and today functions once again as a Studio Theater/Actor’s Workshop.

There is not a thing in the world that makes me happier than a shop that sells nothing but Panettone!

A plaque honors Monsignor Gaetano Mercalli, who oversaw the local parish from 1898 – 1934.

The Porta Garibaldi is one of the six main gates of Milan.  It was part of the Spanish bastions, the rest of which have now all disappeared.  It consists of a neoclassical arch and two annexed toll booths.  The Gate can be found in Piazza XXV Aprile.  It was designed by Giacomo Moraglia, and dates from 1826,

Directly in front of the Porta Garibaldi is the Corso Como, a short pedestrian only street which is lined with high-end boutiques and cafes/restaurants.  There are two fountains in the middle of the street, both dating from the year 2003.

A slowly rising staircase takes you to the entrance of the UniCredit Tower, and the piazza at it’s bottom.  This is the tallest building in Italy.  It is the headquarters of UniCredit, Italy’s largest bank, and is part of the Porta Nuova district.  The building was designed by the architect Cesar Pelli.

From the stairway/ramp, we catch a glimpse of the Porta Garibaldi train station.

Next Up: We continue to explore the Porta Nuova district before heading out for the evening.

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