Milan, Museum of Science and Technology, from March 3rd to May 1st
Milan: Museo del 900
Start your virtual tour and discover Italian Futurism and Divisionism
This journey around Milan starts from Piazza del Duomo: we’re in the museum of the 20th century – Museo del Novecento.
The museum houses a collection of pieces by 20th-century artists, in the main Italian. Artists very closely associated with Milan, and more.
Milan is famous because it is where Futurism was developed, but we focus above all on a masterpiece by the Divisionism painter Pellizza da Volpedo: Il quarto stato…
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⇒ Watch the full web serie: Green Milan Slow Tour
Cover pic by Thomas Pagani Photografpher (Museo del 900 on Flickr)
Visit Turismo Milano official webiste
Visit Museo del 900 official website
Video full text: Museo del Novecento
This journey around Milan starts from Piazza del Duomo.
We’re in the museum of the 20th century,
in via Marconi, almost at the corner of Piazza del Duomo.
Danka Giacon is the museum’s curator
The Museo del Novecento houses works of the 20th century.
A collection of pieces by 20th-century artists, in the main Italian.
Artists very closely associated with Milan,
because it’s where major artistic events took place during the first half of the 20th century.
But there is also a national component and more.
Milan is famous because it is where Futurism was developed.
In fact, we’re starting with rooms dedicated to Futurism, and in particular to Boccioni.
In this painting Boccioni has painted the chimney stacks,
but behind them there is also the countryside… that’s already a clue!
This is the primary scene from where I wanted to start!
It is a veritable scene that the artist describes like this:
“We are in a countryside village and it’s about half ten in the morning.
The two farm hands are moving towards the observer to plead their case”.
The date is 1901 and the artist is Pellizza da Volpedo.
Pellizza was very close to Milan, where he studied at the Academy of Brera.
He was an exponent of Divisionism.
To understand what that means you only need to look carefully.
Experts in the history of art will tell you that Divisionism
reproduces light through the separation of the complementary colours,
that is to say by painting tiny segments that from afar provide an overall effect.
To be more precise, they are not Pointillists, they created dots!
In my opinion there’s also a socio-political aspect.
At that time there was a growing social conscience,
and the Divisionists wanted to divide the people into social classes.
Here they are depicting the farm hands.
It’s the period of the struggles, and it is no coincidence, therefore, that Pellizza wasn’t able to sell this work.
The citizens of Milan bought it by raising the necessary funds in 1920.
It was hidden away in a cellar by the Fascists only to resurface again in 1954 as a symbol.
On a biographical note, the woman, there on the side, is the artist’s wife,
and the girl is his daughter. They both died leaving him incapable of bearing the pain –
Giuseppe Pellizza took his own life in Volpedo in 1907.
The interesting thing is that the Divisionists – Segantini, Morbelli, Longoni and Previati –
could also have painted labourers,
but they chose to focus on the world of the farmhands,
here in Milan, in the metropolis, where the idea of agriculture prevails.
Visit Milan: helpful hints
Italian name: Milano
Arrival
Milan has got three airports:
- Malpensa Airport is the largest international & intecontinental Airport in Northern Italy. 30 miles Northwest from the city centre. Connections:
→ Train Malpensa Express: trains leaves every 30 minutes in each direction, connecting the Airport to Milan Grand Central Station or Cadorna Railway Station. Terminals 1 and 2. It takes 45 min, price: 14 €
→ Shuttle Bus: Malpensa Shuttle and Malpensa Bus Express connect the airport to Milan Grand Central Railway Station and Milan’s Underground Network. Terminals 1 and 2. It takes 60/70 min, price: 8 € - City Airport Linate is an international airport connecting Milan with main European cities, located just 4 miles from the city centre. Connections by shuttle: Atm Bus n. 73 from Milano Duomo M1 – M3 (Piazza Diaz, direction: San Babila), first ride at 5.35 am, last one at 00.35. Frequency: every 10 min, price 1,5 €
- Milan Bergamo Airport Orio al Serio is mainly low cost flights Airport, located 30 miles Northwest from Milan. Connections only by Shuttle: There are 4 different bus companies, pricing changes from 5 up to 8 €
Transports
ATM is Milan public transport service both for bus, tram and subway. Single ticket costs 1.50€ for 90-min ride. Consider daily/weekly subscriptions. You can buy tickets also texting to 48444. Milan Subway is the longest in Italy, covering 95 km: Donwload and check the map.
Moving in town can be nice also by bike: Milan has got a powerfull bike sharing service providing both regular and e-bikes. Here is the experience of our Ambassador Kim Harding with BikeMi service and a useful video of our Ambassador Roxana explaining how does it work. Car Sharing is also good with many different companies to choose.
Try also the local urban railway train, called Passante Ferroviario, check the experience of our Ambassador Roxana Iacoban travelling by local train in town.
What to do in Milan
Milan is the Italian financial center and one of the European capitals of Fashion. Known for its nightlife as well.
Some tips on Italia Slow Tour: watch our web serie about Leonardo da Vinci’s places, climb on top of the Duomo, visit Prada Foundation, Museums and Art Galleries, taste some fine gelato and try the local Aperitivo and – not joking – enjoy a sailing trip (!!) or some time deep in the nature close to some actual farms and fields.
Where to sleep
Accomodations are quite expensive in Milan, fares rise up and hotels get full according to the rich event calendar of the city (see: Fashion Week, Salone del mobile, Big concerts, Theatre and Sport events, etc.). If you are not specifically interested in any of those, try to travel during other periods to save some money.
Italia Slow Tour recommends:
- Hotel Cervo in Garibaldi District if you want to stay close to city centre and enjoy the nightlife
- Hotel Concorde located on the Green Way Milan-Lecco to Lake Como, if you want to move around adn travel by bike
Shopping in Milan
The famous Fashion District involves the following streets/areas: Via Montenapoleone, via Manzoni, via della Spiga and Corso Venezia. The so called “Quadrilateral of Fashion”. Here you can find all kind of brands and shops. Easy to reach by Subway (stop at Montenapoleone station).
Don’t miss the Street Markets! Almost every day you can find one: best are the ones in Viale Papiniano (on Tuesday) and Via Fauchè (on Saturday). More on the official website of weekly street markets. If you are into sustainable local products, Milan has got 8 actual farms in town and a green Earth Market.
If you are interested in Outlet Shopping, in the outskirt of Milan you can find 4 different Fashion Outlets, in a radius of 62 miles. Here you can find everyday a lot of famous high quality Italian brands on sale, with prices cut off up to 50%. All the outlets are connected to the center of Milan by Shuttle Bus:
- Serravalle Designer Outlet – Shuttle departure from Milan Central Station or Cairoli square
- Fidenza Village Outlet Shopping – Shuttle departure from Piazza della Repubblica 5, at the corner with Turati st.
- Vicolungo The Style Outlets – Shuttle departure from Cairoli square
- Rodengo-Saiano Franciacorta Outlet Village – Shuttle departure from Cairoli square
