Imagine the Milanese sun warming your skin. You are standing before a vast complex. This is Centro Sportivo Saini. It is more than just a sports center. It’s a Milanese institution.
Centro Sportivo Saini opened in 1975. The City of Milan owns it. It’s the largest municipal sports facility in the city, sprawling across 160,000 square meters within Parco Forlanini.
Originally, it was intended to be the CONI reference center for Lombardy. Later, it was ceded to the City of Milan. For years, it housed the ISEF Lombardia.
Think of the echoes of cheers and the thud of bouncing balls. Imagine athletes of all levels training here. The center boasts an impressive array of facilities. There are swimming pools, including a 25-meter pool. There is a 50-meter pool with winter coverage, and a diving pool. A summer pool is available for children. You can find four gyms and a cardio fitness room. There are twelve tennis courts, an athletic track, and a baseball field. Not forgetting a rugby field, a beach volleyball court, and a roller-skating rink. Two 11-a-side football pitches and a 5-a-side football field complete the picture.
The Ares Milano baseball team calls this place home. FIN Lombardia hosts synchronized swimming competitions here. They also host water polo matches.
Picture this center transformed into a summer beach resort.
The athletic track was renovated to provide a modern facility for students. The old track was severely deteriorated. The synthetic surface was worn out and detached from the subfloor. The perimeter drainage channels were clogged. The track now features a new surface. It is made of SBR and EPDM. New drainage channels have been installed.
But here’s a lesser-known fact. The renovations focused on creating a track suitable for both teaching and training. The elasticity is optimal for daily training, minimizing injuries. It’s not specifically designed for high-level competition.
The track consists of a 400-meter, six-lane ring. A straight stretch has eight lanes. There is a runway for long jumps with two landing pits. A pole vault runway exists, as well as a javelin throwing area. There is also a throwing cage. The weight platform is located in a separate area.
The Centro Sportivo Saini is currently undergoing further renovations. These began in January 2025. They are scheduled to last two years. During this time, the center is closed. The City of Milan has assigned the center to the State University of Milan. They will establish a Faculty of Motor Sciences here.