Grand Train Station of Milan, Italy
Guest Post By: Margie Miklas
Besides being a train station, Milano Centrale is an architectural monument. Milano Centrale is Milan’s main train station and the second-largest train station in Italy, if you measure by size and volume of traffic. Over 120 million people use this station every year and 600 trains a day depart or arrive at the station.
Besides being one of the busiest stations, Milano Centrale is definitely one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe. Although its cornerstone was laid in 1906 the Milan train station was not completed until 1931 when it opened as the new Milano Centrale station. It was designed by architect Ulisse Stacchini, who modeled it after Washington, D.C.’s Union Station.
Construction was slow partly due to the economy in Italy during World War I, and partly because Mussolini kept changing the plan in favor of a grander structure, one that would depict the fascist regime. Its dimensions measure 656 feet in length and 236 feet in height at the highest point of the vaulted ceilings, with 24 platforms.
The architectural style of Milano Centrale station is a combination of Art Deco and Liberty with numerous sculptures and intricate designs. The façade features Aurisina stone, a beige limestone. Statues of winged horses sit atop this giant structure and the view from outside is beautiful.
Milano Centrale has three entrances, with the main entrance facing Piazza Duca d’Aosta. Another entrance is located facing Piazza IV Novembre, and the third entrance faces Piazza Luigi di Savoia, in close proximity to the shuttle bus terminal, where shuttles take you to Malpensa airport for €7.50 one way.
In the past few years a large refurbishing project took place to update and prepare Milano Centrale for the upcoming Expo 2015. Moving ramps, additional elevators and other accessible innovations have been put into place to modernize the train station and provide for more efficiency. A separate ticketing hall with numerous windows is available in addition to the self-serve machines in the main hall.
In the restoration of the vaults and walls of the atrium, some of sculptor Bazzoni’s bas-reliefs were able to be reconstructed. Some artwork by Basilio Cascella is now more visible after a thorough cleaning had taken place.
Milano Centrale features a large retail area on four levels including shopping and dining, and for security and safety reasons a large police presence is in effect. Connections with other train stations are available as well as access to Milan’s metro system.
Guest Post By: Margie Miklas
