Parco Sempione and Arco della Pace

Parco Sempione is Milan's green heart and the natural continuation of any visit to the Sforza Castle. It lies on what was once the castle's ducal hunting ground and later a parade ground, and it was laid out in the 1890s by the architect Emilio Alemagna as an English-style landscape park, with winding paths, a small lake, gentle slopes and large trees. The main axis runs straight from the castle across the park to the Arco della Pace, a triumphal arch begun in the early nineteenth century under Napoleon and completed after his fall by the Austrians, who rededicated it to peace; the bronze chariot on top famously faces the city. On one side of the park stands the Torre Branca, a slim steel tower designed by Gio Ponti in 1933, next to the Palazzo dell'Arte that houses the Triennale, where Giorgio de Chirico's fountain the Mysterious Baths sits outside. On the other side are the Arena Civica, a Napoleonic stadium still used for athletics and events, and the Art Nouveau Civic Aquarium. Look for the Ponte delle Sirenette, a small iron bridge with four mermaid statues, and the park's sculptures and old trees, including a large Caucasian walnut. The park is where the Milanese come to relax: joggers in the morning, families and students on the lawns at weekends, and people watching the sunset over the arch. The streets around the Arco della Pace are full of bars, which make it a popular aperitivo area. It is free, open daily and best enjoyed slowly, with no particular agenda.

Practicalities: the park is open daily from early morning until evening, with longer hours in summer, and it is closed at night. Entry is free. There are cafés and kiosks inside, the Triennale's garden café and terrace on the western edge, and plenty of benches and lawns for a picnic. Public toilets are limited, so plan on using café facilities. The Civic Aquarium has its own small ticket and timetable, and the Torre Branca's lift opens on a seasonal schedule, so check before you go.

How to enjoy it: walk through the Sforza Castle courtyards and out the back gate into the park, follow the central axis to the Arco della Pace, then loop back via the lake, the Ponte delle Sirenette and the Triennale. That circuit takes about an hour at a gentle pace. In good weather, bring a picnic or grab sandwiches nearby; in the early evening, the area around the arch fills up for aperitivo.

Combining it: the park joins the Sforza Castle to the Triennale, so it fits naturally into a day of museums. The Cadorna, Cairoli, Lanza and Moscova metro stops are all within a few minutes' walk. Families can add the aquarium, and the playgrounds and open lawns are ideal for burning off energy between sights.