Page 73 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

NOR THWEST MILAN  71

5 Arco della Pace
Piazza Sempione. Map 2 F3. v 1, 19.
@ 43, 57, 61.
Work on Milan’s major Neo-
Classical monument was begun
by Luigi Cagnola in 1807 to
celebrate Napoleon’s victories.
It was originally called the Arch
of Victories, but building was
interrupted and not resumed
until 1826 by Francis I of Austria,
who had the subjects of
the bas-reliefs changed to
commemorate the peace
of 1815 instead. The Arch of
Peace was inaugurated on Tree-lined Corso Sempione
10 September 1838 on the
occasion of Ferdinand I’s 6 Triennale research resources in the fields
coronation as ruler of the Design Museum of architecture, art and fashion.
Lombardy–Veneto kingdom. The DesignCafé is worth a visit
The arch is dressed in Crevola Viale Alemagna 6. Map 3 A4. Tel 02- to take in the surroundings and
marble and decorated with 72 43 41. q 1–2 Cadorna. @ 61. Michelin-starred cuisine. Next
bas-reliefs depicting episodes Open 10:30am–8:30pm Tue–Sun to the museum is the Teatro
of the restoration after (last adm: 7:25pm). & 7 - d dell’Arte, redesigned in 1960.
Napoleon’s fall. On the upper ∑ triennale.org
level are personifications of
the rivers in the Lombardy– The Palazzo dell’Arte, southwest 7 Corso Sempione
Veneto kingdom: the Po, Ticino, of Parco Sempione, was built Map 2 D1, E2, F3. v 1, 19.
Adda and Tagliamento. by Giovanni Muzio in 1932–3 @ 37, 43, 57.
At the top of the monument as a permanent site for the
stands the huge bronze International Exhibition Modelled on the grand
Chariot of Peace, by Abbondio of Decorative Arts. The boulevards of Paris,
Sangiorgio, surrounded by Triennale show was Corso Sempione was the
four Victories on horseback. founded in 1923 to foster first stage of a road built
The chariot originally faced the development of Italian by Napoleon to link the
France. However, when Milan arts and always played a city with Lake Maggiore,
was ceded to Austria in 1815, primary role in promoting Switzerland and France
it was turned to face the architectural develop- via the Simplon Pass.
centre of the city, and was ment. The building now The first section, starting
the site of the triumphal houses the Triennale at the Arco della Pace, is
entrance into Milan of Vittorio Design Museum, offering pedestrianized. The Corso
Emanuele II, first king of Italy both a permanent is lined with late 19th-
upon unification in 1861. collection and century and early
temporary exhibi tions Obelisk in front of the 20th-century houses
show casing Milan as a Palzzo dell’Arte and is now the main
centre for cutting-edge thoroughfare in a
design. The museum includes an vast quarter. The initial stretch
excellent decorative arts book- (towards the park) is considered
store as well as a research library an elegant area, with good
with specialized and often rare shops, bars and restaurants,
the headquarters of Milanese
banks and Italian State Radio
and TV, RAI (at No. 27). Opposite,
at No. 36, is a residence designed
by Giuseppe Terragni and Pietro
Lingeri in 1935, one of the
first examples of Rationalist
architecture in Milan.
The semicircular Via Canova
and Via Melzi d’Eril cross the
Corso, every angle of which
offers a different view of the
The horses on the Arco della Pace, each cast in one piece Arco della Pace.

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