CityLife Milan: Shopping, Architecture & Skyline

Milan's Neighbourhood of the Future

CityLife is Milan's most ambitious urban regeneration project of recent decades. Built on the site of the former Fiera Campionaria (the historic trade fair grounds that for nearly a century represented the city's commercial heart), CityLife has transformed 366,000 m² of land into a cutting-edge residential, commercial and cultural district.

For guests staying in our San Siro apartments, CityLife is an unmissable destination just minutes away: take the M5 line (purple) from San Siro Stadio station and alight at Tre Torri — just one stop. Alternatively, a pleasant 20-minute walk takes you directly into the heart of the district.

The Three Towers: Icons of Contemporary Architecture

CityLife's symbol is the Three Towers, designed by three of the world's most celebrated architects. Together they form a unique skyline that has redefined Milan's profile.

🌀 Torre Hadid — "The Twisted One" (Il Generali)

Designed by Anglo-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid (1950–2016), the Hadid Tower stands 177 metres tall and is nicknamed "Lo Storto" (The Twisted One) by locals for its characteristic rotation along the vertical axis. The glass and steel façade twists on itself creating a dynamic, fluid effect typical of Hadid's style. Inaugurated in 2017, it houses the headquarters of Generali, Italy's insurance giant.

📐 Torre Isozaki — "The Straight One"

At 209 metres, the Isozaki Tower is Milan's tallest building and the second tallest in Italy. Designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki together with Andrea Maffei, it is nicknamed "Il Dritto" (The Straight One) for its perfectly vertical, symmetrical lines. The reflective glass façade changes colour throughout the day — from deep blue to silver to gold at sunset. Home to Allianz, it was inaugurated in 2015.

🔀 Torre Libeskind — "The Curved One"

The most recent arrival, designed by Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind, stands 175 metres tall and is nicknamed "Il Curvo" (The Curved One) for its concave façade that seems to embrace the square below. Inaugurated in 2020, it houses PwC Italia. The tower's curve creates a unique scenic effect: viewed from below, it appears to lean towards the observer.

The Three Towers in Numbers

Tower	Architect	Height	Nickname	Year
Isozaki	Arata Isozaki	209 m	The Straight One	2015
Hadid	Zaha Hadid	177 m	The Twisted One	2017
Libeskind	Daniel Libeskind	175 m	The Curved One	2020

CityLife Shopping District

The CityLife Shopping District is Milan's largest and most modern shopping centre. Opened in 2017, it spans 32,000 m² over three levels and offers more than 100 shops, an extensive food court, a multiplex cinema and event spaces.

Brands include Zara, H&M, Primark, Nike, Apple, Sephora, Lego Store and many more. The upper-floor food court offers a variety of cuisines — from classic Italian to Japanese, Mexican to healthy options — with spectacular views of the Three Towers.

Practical Information

• Opening hours: daily 10:00–22:00 (restaurants until 23:00)
• Open Sundays and public holidays
• How to get there: Metro M5, Tre Torri station (direct exit into the mall)
• From San Siro: 1 metro stop or 20 minutes on foot
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the shopping centre

CityLife Park

CityLife isn't just towers and shopping: the project includes a 170,000 m² public park, the third-largest park in central Milan. Designed with environmental sustainability in mind, it offers walking and cycling paths, children's play areas, artificial lakes and vast stretches of lawn.

The park is particularly atmospheric in the evening, when the illuminated Three Towers reflect in the lakes and the atmosphere becomes almost surreal. It's the perfect spot for an after-dinner stroll or an outdoor aperitivo at the terrace bars overlooking the green.

For nature lovers, CityLife's park integrates into the wider system of parks and green areas in the San Siro zone.

From Fiera Campionaria to CityLife: The Transformation

For almost a century, this area hosted the Fiera Campionaria di Milano, founded in 1920. It was the beating heart of Italian commerce: millions of visitors each year, enormous exhibition pavilions, a symbol of Italy's economic miracle. When the Fair moved to Rho Pero (the new exhibition complex designed by Massimiliano Fuksas), the area lay empty.

The CityLife project, begun in 2007 and still being completed in some residential areas, transformed this void into one of Milan's most desirable neighbourhoods — a virtuous example of urban regeneration that returned to the city a space previously closed and inaccessible.

CityLife and San Siro: A Strategic Proximity

The closeness of CityLife to the San Siro district is one of the main advantages for guests choosing our apartments:

• 1 Metro M5 stop (San Siro Stadio → Tre Torri): 3 minutes
• On foot: 20-minute pleasant walk
• By bicycle: 7–8 minutes via cycle path

This means that by staying in San Siro you have immediate access to both the neighbourhood atmosphere (the local markets, local bars, the stadium) and the contemporary, cosmopolitan Milan of CityLife. The best of both worlds.

Tips for Your Visit

• Best time: late afternoon, to enjoy shopping, aperitivo and sunset on the towers
• Photography: the Three Towers are spectacular at sunset and at night — bring your camera!
• Sundays: ideal for brunch at the food court restaurants + a walk in the park
• With children: the park has excellent play areas and the Shopping District is family-friendly
• Budget-friendly: the park and architectural walks are free — you can enjoy CityLife without spending a cent