
A global city and cosmopolitan hub, Milan is mainly recognized today as a fashion and economic center, widely coveted by visitors from around the world. It is the second most populated city in Italy and hosts some of the major fashion and design-related events in the world. Milan also houses prestigious educational institutions, many of which are renowned for heritage and conservationist specialties.
The latter is quite relevant, seeing as the city's most recognizable tourist attractions are the gothic Duomo di Milano, Santa Maria delle Grazia, or the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, amongst other classical and baroque sites. On the other hand, the city also has some of the boldest and most experimental modern and contemporary buildings that highlight the marriage of the beautifully crafted and often ornamental heritage with the modern, post-modernist, and contemporary monuments that make up Milan's unique style.
The following list showcases the historically sensitive architecture type as seen in iconic modern and contemporary buildings and spaces, which will provide a good starting point for your first visit to Milan. It includes must-see landmarks and contemporary attractions from renowned local and international architects such as Aldo Rossi, Gio Ponti, Stefano Boeri, Mario Cucinella, Zaha Hadid, Grafton Architects, Herzog & de Meuron, and Foster and Partners amongst others.
Must-See Iconic Buildings
Duomo Di Milano / Simone da Orsenigo

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II / Guiseppe Mengoni

Torre Velasca / BBPR

Gallaratese Quarter / Aldo Rossi & Carlo Aymonino

IULM_Milan / 5+1AAAlfonsoFemiaGianlucaPeluffo

Pirelli Tower / Gio Ponti, Pier Luigi Nervi

RCS Building / Stefano Boeri Architetti

Universita Luigi Bocconi / Grafton Architects

Bosco Verticale / Boeri Studio

Feltrinelli Porta Volta / Herzog & de Meuron

Gino Valle Square / Valle Architetti Associati

Gucci Hub / Piuarch

Cascina Merlata Residential Development / Mario Cucinella Architects

Fondazione Prada / OMA

Generali Tower / Zaha Hadid Architects

New Attractions
Apple Piazza Liberty / Foster + Partners

New Urban Campus for Bocconi University / SANAA

Collegio di Milano / Piuarch

Citylife Apartments / Zaha Hadid Architects

Bun Milan Restaurant / Masquespacio

Marsotto Milan Showroom / nendo

Residenze Carlo Erba / Eisenman Architects + Degli Esposti Architetti + AZstudio

MEET Digital Arts Center / Carlo Ratti Associati

Residential Building Canonica / deamicisarchitetti

Bally Flagship Store Milan / Casper Mueller Kneer Architects

Camparino in Galleria Bar / Lissoni Casal Ribeiro

forte_forte milano / forte_forte

Motta Milano 1928 / Collidanielarchitetto

M89 Hotel / Piuarch

Base - Center For Culture And Creativity / Onsite Studio

We invite you to visit our list of Architecture City Guides.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on February 01, 2023.