Designed in 1783 by the architect Piermarini, these Public Gardens, covering 160,000 square meters, includes the two Carcanine and San Dionigi monasteries which overlook Corso Venezia. In 1857, the typical Italian gardens were enlarged by Francesco Giuseppe to encompass the Dugnani Palace Park. In 1787, thanks to a further land transfer from the Elvetico College, the Boschetti (little woods) were formed. The park contains a small lake with geese and fish, a hill of pretend rock, rides, a miniature train, bumper cars, refreshment stands and the historical bar bianco (white bar), offering yoghurt, milk and other fresh treats. Admission is free.
The Duomo di Como's construction began in 1396 and was completed in 1730, with the creation of the splendid dome by Filippo Juvarra. It was destroyed in a fire in 1935 and completely rebuilt with the help of the architect's original designs. This is one of the most interesting local buildings from the Renaissance era. The Cathedral was built above the old Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which remained in use during the long construction work. The construction involved a long series of local modifications and renovations, including two spans of the Broletto which were knocked down, the Palazzo Pretorio was destroyed and the Church of San Giacomo was made smaller. The result is a splendid work, with a transept contained in the naves and circular apses in gothic tradition as well as numerous, Renaissance-inspired elements. The late gothic facade with Renaissance elements was designed by Fiorino da Bonta between 1455 and 1486 and boasts a notable, sculpture decoration which is mostly the work of Giovanni Rodari and his sons (15th-16th Century). The interior is a Latin cross shape divided into three naves with pillars and has notable works of art including tapestries from the 16th Century by Florentine and Flemish artists and splendid paintings by Bernardino Luini, Gaudenzio Ferrari and Tommaso Rodari.
Teatro Carcano was founded in 1803 by Giuseppe Carcano on the premises of the abandoned monastery of San Lazzaro It has had a glorious history, with countless successes featuring artists that are now world-famous. In 1980, after having been a cinema for many years, it returned to theatrical productions, even though during the day it is used as a hall for lectures. Concessions with nearby car-parks provide discount parking. The theater can arrange baby-sitters and deliver tickets to your home address. It also has low-cost season tickets for young people, and matinee performances that are not exclusively for schools.
Deliberately located in the restructured Castello Sforzesco area in order to provide a stable home for festivities and celebratory events for the Repubblica Cisalpina and the new Regno d'Italia, the Arena Civica was designed by The neoclassical architect Luigi Canonica in 1805 at the north eastern end of the Parco Sempione. Built with materials taken from the castle ruins and modeled on Roman amphitheaters, the Arena has an elliptic floor with four main entrances: to the south-east stands the Triumphal Arch in granite framed with two pairs of golden columns; opposite this is the Porta delle Carceri flanked by two towers, as found in roman models. On the north eastern side is the Porta Libitinaria and on the south west the Loggia Reale which has a monolithic Corinthian column in granite. Now used as a sports ground, the elegant construction has seen some changes this century to increase spectator capacity, transforming the terraces. The characteristic curtain of trees that ran alongside the terraces was also removed and the channel that wound along the stalls and brought canal water in also allowed the passage of famous 'naumachie'.
Civic Museum of Natural History was founded in 1838, in a neo-Romanesque style building. Renovated and re-opened to the public in 1952, it's located within the public gardens of Corso Venezia. Beginning in 1980, a comprehensive modernization programme was initiated. There are eight sections: Mineralogy and Petrography, Geology, Paleontology, Vertibrate Paleontology, Vertibrate Zoology, Invertibrate Zoology, Entomology, and Botany. The Geology section boasts the largest number of panoramas existing in Europe; in numerous glass displays, natural environments have been re-created with reproductions of the fauna and flora. Of special interest is the fossil collection of the Besano Glacier with large-sized reptiles such as Ascheptosauri and Tanistrofei. There are also seven dinosaur skeletons assembled on display and the reconstruction of a Triceratopo Kritosaurus Notabilis. A naturalist library, a bookshop with museum publications, and guided tours are available.
This artificial basin is considered to be the lake of Milan and is used for high-level motorboat, canoe and rowing competitions. There are also many sports centers around the shore which offer windsurfing, canoeing, rowing and waterskiing. It is also possible to get a fishing permit here. It is open in the summer months only. Some major concerts and music festivals are also held here.