Milano Due

Did you ever imagine a city within a city? Here in Segrate, on the outskirts of Milan, stands Milano Due, a unique urban experiment. Milano Due isn’t just a suburb. It’s a self-contained world designed with a utopian vision in the 1970s by Edilnord, a company linked to Silvio Berlusconi. Picture a network of elevated walkways and cycle paths weaving through lush green spaces. This intricate system allows residents to traverse the entire neighborhood without ever encountering a car. Milano Due was envisioned as a haven for upper-middle-class families with children. It offered a tranquil escape from the bustling city, a place where kids could roam freely and families could connect with nature. The heart of Milano Due is marked by several key features. There’s the “il laghetto,” a small artificial lake that provides a serene focal point. Playgrounds for both children and adults dot the landscape, and the abundance of green areas creates a park-like atmosphere. This pedestrian paradise, however, wasn’t without its challenges. In May 2023, parts of Milano Due, including the business center, experienced significant flooding. This event served as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between urban planning and the natural world. Beyond its residential charm, Milano Due played a pivotal role in Italian media history. It was here that the first private television channel, TeleMilanocavo, began broadcasting in 1974. This small cable network, later acquired by Silvio Berlusconi, eventually transformed into Canale 5, Italy’s first national private TV station. So, as you stroll along the elevated walkways of Milano Due, remember that you are walking through a piece of Italian urban and media history. This unique neighborhood stands as a testament to a bold experiment in urban living, a vision of a car-free, family-centric community.