The Teatro Fossati was founded by Carlo Fossati, hence its 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, featured in the pictures above and below, houses two statues, depicting Garibaldi and his wife, Anita. The statues are the work of Andrea Boni. In 1881, this was the first theater in the city, to experiment with electric lighting . In the late 1920s, the space was used as a cinema. Eventually, the place was closed. It was given new life in the 1970s. Today, once again, it functions 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 through 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, you will find Corso Como, a short pedestrian-only street, lined with high-end boutiques and cafés/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 its 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, César 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!
<em>Note: This blog is written in English, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any translation that 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!</em>