Parco Gino Cassinis

Amidst the urban tapestry of Milan lies Parco Gino Cassinis. It’s a tranquil escape, also known as Parco delle Rose. Parco Gino Cassinis honors Gino Cassinis, a prominent figure who served as rector of the Politecnico, president of the Accademia dei Lincei, and mayor of Milan. The park’s creation in 1978 transformed land once belonging to the Chiaravalle Abbey. These monks, starting in the 11th century, ingeniously reclaimed the land. They cultivated rice here after the mid-16th century. This area was also known as Porto di Mare, hinting at a fascinating past. A bold plan in the early 1900s envisioned Parco Gino Cassinis as a bustling port connecting Milan to the Adriatic Sea. Imagine a canal cutting through the city, bringing the scent of the sea to Milan. This ambitious project involved creating an artificial canal to the Po River. The Autonomous Port Company Authority, formed in 1918, unfortunately dissolved in 1922 due to the immense costs. However, the excavated basin, reaching a depth of 10 meters, found a new purpose as a bathing establishment until World War II. This history shapes the park’s unique topography. The remnants of the port project created the park’s undulating landscape of slopes and tranquil rest areas. Today, Parco Gino Cassinis invites you to stroll along its central asphalt path or wander freely across the open grassy expanse. A diverse array of trees shades the park. You’ll find American maples, sycamore maples, Norway maples, hackberries, birches, flowering cherries, liquidambars, black walnuts, white alders, black alders, raven pears, poplars, red oaks, black locusts, sophoras, and common lime trees. Among the shrubs, you’ll encounter deuzia, forsythia, hibiscus, mahonia, and weigelia. A magnificent weeping willow, Salix baylonica Tortuosa, graces the park. Parco Gino Cassinis stands as a testament to Milan’s ever-evolving story. It’s a place where history intertwines with nature, offering a peaceful retreat within a bustling metropolis.