Triennale Milano

Milan is the capital of Italian design, and the Triennale Milano is its home. The institution organises exhibitions on design, architecture, art and visual culture, and it houses the Museo del Design Italiano, the national collection of Italian design objects. It stands in the Palazzo dell'Arte, on the edge of Parco Sempione, and its terraces, garden and café make it one of the most pleasant cultural venues in the city, whether or not design is your main interest.

The Palazzo dell'Arte

The building was designed by the architect Giovanni Muzio and opened in 1933, when the Triennale exhibitions moved to Milan from Monza. Its long brick façade, tall arched windows and spacious halls were planned specifically for exhibitions, and the interior is flexible and full of light. The grand staircase, the central hall and the theatre, the Teatro dell'Arte, are part of the visit. The building itself is a fine example of Italian architecture between the wars.

Museo del Design Italiano

The permanent collection tells the story of Italian design from the post-war period onwards through furniture, lamps, household objects, cars and graphic design. Famous pieces include chairs by Gio Ponti and Achille Castiglioni, lamps by Vico Magistretti, coffee makers, typewriters and radios that changed everyday life. The displays explain how designers worked with manufacturers in Lombardy and Brianza, the furniture-making region north of Milan, to create objects that became international icons.

Temporary exhibitions

The Triennale's temporary exhibitions cover design, architecture, photography, fashion and contemporary art, and they change several times a year. The International Exhibition, held at intervals since the 1920s, brings countries and designers together around a theme. We look at the programme before visiting and choose according to our interests, since the exhibitions can be as rewarding as the permanent collection.

The garden and the bagni misteriosi

The Triennale's garden opens onto the park and holds sculptures and installations. The most loved is Giorgio de Chirico's Bagni Misteriosi, a fountain of 1973 with a swan, a striped cabin and a pool painted like a tiled floor. The terrace café, with views over the park, is a calm place for lunch or an afternoon break. Next door, the steel Torre Branca, designed by Gio Ponti for the 1933 Triennale, offers views over the city from its platform.

Milan Design Week

Every April, Milan hosts the Salone del Mobile, the world's leading furniture fair, at the Rho exhibition centre, and the city fills with the Fuorisalone, hundreds of events, installations and exhibitions in showrooms, courtyards and districts such as Brera, Tortona and Isola. The Triennale is one of the central venues. If your trip falls in that week, the atmosphere is exciting, but hotels fill early, so we book accommodation months ahead.

Design across the city

After the Triennale, notice how design shapes everyday Milan: shop interiors, café furniture, public lighting and even the signage of the metro, designed in the 1960s by Franco Albini, Franca Helg and Bob Noorda. The showrooms around San Babila and Via Durini display Italian brands, and our Milan shopping guide lists the main design streets.

Children and families

The Triennale works well for families, because objects such as chairs, toys and lamps are easy to relate to. Some exhibitions include interactive elements and workshops for children, and the garden and park outside give space to run between rooms. The museum shop sells design books, toys and gifts that make unusual souvenirs.

Our view

We combine the Triennale with Castello Sforzesco and the park for a day that runs from the Renaissance to modern design. Allow two hours for the museum and an exhibition, plus time for the garden and café. Metro M1 and M2 at Cadorna are a short walk away. For a contrast in art, the Museo del Novecento shows Italian painting and sculpture of the same century.