History of Milan in Timeline
Milan is a major city in northern Italy, the capital of the Lombardy region. It is the largest city in Italy by urban population and the second most populous city proper after Rome. The city proper has about 1.4 million residents, while its metropolitan area is estimated to contain between 7.5 and 8.2 million people. Milan is considered the economic capital of Italy and a leading financial center in Europe and worldwide.
1901: Construction of Palazzo Castiglioni
Between 1901 and 1903, architect Giuseppe Sommaruga built Palazzo Castiglioni.
1902: Bocconi University Established
In 1902, Bocconi University, a private management and finance university, was established.
1903: Construction of Palazzo Castiglioni
Between 1901 and 1903, architect Giuseppe Sommaruga built Palazzo Castiglioni.
1904: Premiere of Madama Butterfly
In 1904, Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini premiered at La Scala in Milan.
1906: Universal Exposition
In 1906, Milan hosted the Universal Exposition.
1906: Simplon railway tunnels
In 1906, with the opening of the Simplon railway tunnels, Milan became the major South European rail hub for goods and passenger transport.
1909: Marinetti's "Manifesto of Futurism"
In 1909, Filippo Marinetti wrote the "Manifesto of Futurism", in which he described Milan as "grand...traditional and futuristic".
1919: Orient Express
From 1919, Milan and Venice were among the main stops of the Orient Express.
October 1922: March on Rome
In October 1922, Benito Mussolini launched his March on Rome from Milan.
1923: Galleria del Corso built
The Galleria del Corso was built between 1923 and 1931.
1924: University of Milan Founded
In 1924, the University of Milan (also known as the "State University") was founded as the largest public teaching and research university in the city.
1926: Premiere of Turandot
In 1926, Turandot by Giacomo Puccini premiered at La Scala in Milan.
1927: Amatori Rugby Milano Founded
In 1927, Amatori Rugby Milano, the most decorated rugby team in Italy, was founded in Milan.
1931: Pontifical Ambrosian Institute of Sacred Music Founded
In 1931, the Pontifical Ambrosian Institute of Sacred Music was founded by the blessed cardinal A.I. Schuster.
1931: Inauguration of Central railway station
In 1931, the huge Central railway station was inaugurated.
1931: Galleria del Corso built
The Galleria del Corso was built between 1923 and 1931.
1934: FIFA World Cup
In 1934, Milan hosted matches for the FIFA World Cup.
1940: Institute of Sacred Music
In 1940, the Pontifical Ambrosian Institute of Sacred Music was raised according to the rules by the Holy See.
1943: German occupation
In 1943, after Italy surrendered, German forces occupied and plundered most of northern Italy, including Milan.
April 1945: Execution of Mussolini
In April 1945, the Italian resistance seized control of Milan and executed Mussolini along with his mistress and several regime officers.
1952: Milan's Fashion Exports
In 1952, Milan's fashion exports reached US$726 million, marking significant industrial growth for the city.
1955: Growth of Milan's Fashion Exports
By 1955, Milan's fashion exports dramatically increased to US$72.5 billion, showing a substantial rise in the fashion industry.
1956: Construction of Pirelli Tower and Velasca Tower
In 1956, construction began on Gio Ponti's Pirelli Tower (1956–60) and the Velasca Tower (1956–58), marking significant milestones in Milan's architectural history during a period of rapid urban expansion.
1958: Pallacanestro Milano 1958
Pallacanestro Milano 1958, is a professional Lega Basket club in Milan as of 1958.
1960: Bresso Airfield Operations
Since 1960, Bresso Airfield has mostly served as a general aviation airfield for flying club activity, touristic flights, and air taxi services.
1961: Average snowfall
Between 1961 and 1990, the historic average of Milan's area is 25 centimetres (10 in) of snowfall.
1964: Compasso d'Oro Award
In 1964, the architectural project of the Milan Metro, created by Franco Albini and Franca Helg, and the signs, designed by Bob Noorda, received the Compasso d'Oro award.
1968: University Institute of Languages and Communication Established
In 1968, the University Institute of Languages and Communication (University IULM) was established as a private teaching university, originally named "University Institute of Languages of Milan".
December 1969: Piazza Fontana Bombing
On December 12, 1969, a bomb exploded at the National Agrarian Bank in Piazza Fontana, killing 17 people and injuring 88.
1970: Regional Council
The conservatives have governed the Lombardy region almost uninterruptedly since 1970.
1973: Peak Population in Milan
In 1973, Milan's population peaked at 1,743,427 due to rapid industrialization in the post-war years.
1975: Establishment of Parco Nord Milano
In 1975, Parco Nord Milano was established north of the urban area to protect green spaces as a regional park.
1980: UEFA European Championship
In 1980, Milan hosted the UEFA European Championship.
1980: Italian Grand Prix
In 1980, the Formula One Italian Grand Prix was not held at the Monza Circuit near Milan, marking the only exception since the first year of competition.
January 1985: Record Snowfall
In January 1985, Milan experienced a record snowfall of 90 centimetres (35 in).
1990: Average snowfall
Between 1961 and 1990, the historic average of Milan's area is 25 centimetres (10 in) of snowfall.
1990: FIFA World Cup
In 1990, Milan hosted matches for the FIFA World Cup.
1990: Establishment of Parco Agricolo Sud Milano
In 1990, Parco Agricolo Sud Milano was established south of the urban area to protect farmlands and woodlands as a regional park.
1995: Closure of Falck Steel Group Site in Sesto San Giovanni
In 1995, the Falck steel group closed its site in Sesto San Giovanni, Milan.
1997: Renovation of Milan Synagogue Interior
In 1997, the interior of the main city synagogue, Hechal David u-Mordechai Temple, located in Via della Guastalla, underwent renovation.
1998: University of Milano-Bicocca Established
In 1998, the University of Milano-Bicocca was established as the city's newest institution of higher education in science and technology.
1999: Administrative Reform
Before the 1999 administrative reform, the municipality of Milan was subdivided into twenty districts, it was then changed to nine administrative Borough Councils.
2000: Legislative Decree
In 2000, the urban organisation is governed by the Italian Constitution, the Municipal Statute and Legislative Decree 267/2000 or Unified Text on Local Administration.
2003: World Rowing Championships
In 2003, Milan hosted the World Rowing Championships.
2004: Closure of Alfa Romeo Site in Arese
In 2004, the Alfa Romeo automobile company closed its site in Arese, Milan.
2007: Premiere of Teneke
In 2007, Teneke by Fabio Vacchi premiered at La Scala in Milan.
2008: Bike Path Implementation
Since 2008, the implementation of a city-wide network of bike paths has been initiated in Milan.
2009: World Boxing Championships
In 2009, Milan hosted the World Boxing Championships.
2009: High-Speed Train Lines
Since the end of 2009, high-speed train lines have linked Milan to Rome, Naples, and Turin, significantly reducing travel times.
2010: Men's Volleyball World Championship
In 2010, Milan hosted some games of the Men's Volleyball World Championship.
2011: University Students Enrolled
In 2011, Milan had 185,000 university students enrolled, which was approximately 11 percent of the national total.
2011: Trenord Operations
Since 2011, Trenord has operated both Trenitalia and LeNord regional trains in Lombardy, carrying over 750,000 passengers daily.
January 2012: Foehn Winds
On January 22, 2012, Foehn winds caused the daily high temperature in Milan to reach 16 °C (61 °F).
February 2012: Foehn Winds
On February 22, 2012, Foehn winds caused the daily high temperature in Milan to reach 21 °C (70 °F).
2012: Opening of New Section at Gallerie di Piazza Scala
In 2012, a new section opened at the Gallerie di Piazza Scala in the Palazzo della Banca Commerciale Italiana.
2012: Partnership with Saint Petersburg Suspended
In 2012, the partnership with Saint Petersburg was suspended by Milan due to the Russian government's prohibition on "homosexual propaganda".
2013: Population Count
In 2013, the population of the administrative comune of Milan was 1,324,169.
2013: Euroleague Final
The Mediolanum Forum in Milan hosted the final of the 2013–14 Euroleague.
2014: Michelin-Starred Restaurants
As of 2014, Milan had 157 Michelin-selected restaurants, including three 2-Michelin-starred establishments: Cracco, Sadler, and il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia.
2014: Kingsgrove Milan Wins Serie A Championship
In 2014, Kingsgrove Milan won the Serie A championship in cricket.
2014: Women's Volleyball World Championship
In 2014, Milan hosted the final games of the Women's Volleyball World Championship.
2014: City Council Agreed on Mosque Construction
In 2014, the City Council agreed on the construction of a new mosque, which faced political opposition.
January 2015: Metropolitan Municipality
Since January 1, 2015, the urban area of Milan is one of the 15 Metropolitan municipalities (città metropolitane).
April 2015: Opening of Museo delle Culture (MUDEC)
In April 2015, Museo delle Culture (MUDEC) opened after architect David Chipperfield converted the former Ansaldo Factory into a museum.
2015: Universal Exposition
In 2015, Milan again hosted the Universal Exposition.
2015: Milan's Contiguous Built-up Area Population
In 2015, Milan's contiguous built-up urban area was home to 5.27 million people.
2015: Metropolitan City Population
In 2015, the population of the Metropolitan City of Milan was estimated at 3,196,825.
2015: Expo
In 2015, the successful re-branding of the city as a global capital of innovation has been instrumental in its successful bids for hosting large international events such as Expo.
June 2016: Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of the Metropolitan City
Since June 21, 2016, Giuseppe Sala, as mayor of the capital city, has been the mayor of the Metropolitan City.
2016: Administrative Reform
After the 2016 administrative reform, the Borough Councils have the power to advise the Mayor with nonbinding opinions on a large spectrum of topics and are responsible for running most local services.
2016: Champions League Final
In 2016, the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan hosted the Champions League final, where Real Madrid defeated Atlético Madrid 5–3 in a penalty shoot-out.
2017: Forbes Ranking
In 2017, Forbes ranked Bocconi University's one-year MBA course as the fifth-best in the world.
March 2018: Regional Election
On March 26, 2018, a list of candidates of the centre-right coalition, led by Attilio Fontana, largely won the Lombardy regional election.
2018: Milan's Ranking in Most Expensive Cities
According to Swiss bank UBS, Milan was the 7th most expensive city in the world in 2018.
2018: Muslim Population Estimate
As of 2018, the Muslim population was estimated at 9% of the city's total population.
2018: ATM Carries Passengers
In 2018, Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (ATM) carried about 776 million passengers on its network.
2018: Financial Times Ranking
In 2018, Financial Times ranked Bocconi University as the sixth-best business school in Europe.
2018: World Figure Skating Championships
In 2018, Milan hosted the World Figure Skating Championships.
2018: International Tourist Arrivals in Milan
In 2018, Milan recorded 8.81 million registered international arrivals, marking a 9.92% increase from the previous year and ranking as the world's 15th-most-visited city.
2018: International Exhibitions at Fiera Milano
In 2018, international exhibitions like Milan Furniture Fair, EICMA, and EMO took place at Fiera Milano, attracting over 4 million visitors.
2019: Milan's Ranking in Most Expensive Cities
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, Milan was ranked as the 11th-most-expensive city in Europe and the 22nd-most-expensive city in the world in 2019.
2019: Bike Lanes Realized
During the COVID pandemic in 2019, 35 km of bike lanes were created on short notice in Milan.
2020: Bocconi University Ranking
In 2020, QS World University Rankings ranked Bocconi University seventh worldwide and third in Europe in business and management studies.
2020: Rankings in Times Higher Education
In 2020, the University of Milano-Bicocca ranked as the 82nd-best young college on over 300 institutions in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
2021: Milan's GDP per capita
In 2021, Milan's GDP per capita was approximately €61,200 (US$64,300), ranking among Italy's highest.
2022: Polytechnic University Ranking
According to the QS World University Rankings in 2022, the Polytechnic University of Milan ranked as the 13th best in the world for 'Engineering & Technology'.
2022: St. Petersburg Listed on Milan's Twin Towns
As of 2022, St. Petersburg is still listed on Milan's official list of twin towns after the partnership was restored.
2022: EuroBasket
In 2022, Milan was one of the host cities of the EuroBasket.
May 2023: Milan Suburban Railway Service
As of May 2023, the Milan suburban railway service, operated by Trenord, includes 11 S lines connecting the metropolitan area with the city center.
2023: Foreign Residents in Milan
As of 2023, approximately 301,149 foreign residents lived in the municipality of Milan, constituting 21.2% of the total resident population.
2023: African Community in Milan
As of 2023, there were approximately 4,000 Eritrean, Ethiopian, or Somali-born people living in Milan, primarily near the Porta Venezia district.
2023: GDP of Milan and Lombardy
In 2023, Milan's nominal GDP was €195 billion ($205 billion), while Lombardy's GDP was €480.6 billion ($505 billion).
2023: Seamen Milano in European League of Football
In 2023, Seamen Milano joined the professional European League of Football.
2023: Passenger and Cargo Volume
In 2023, the Milan airport system handled traffic of over 51.4 million passengers and around 700,000 tons of goods.
2024: Most Walkable City
In 2024, Milan was ranked as the most walkable city in the world, according to a study published in Nature and reported by The Economist.
2024: Via Monte Napoleone is the most expensive street in the world
In 2024, Via Monte Napoleone became Europe's most expensive street as well as the most-expensive street in the world.
2024: Population Estimate in Milan Province
Mid-2024 estimates indicate that 3,251,166 people lived in the Milan province-level municipality.
2026: Winter Olympic and Paralympic games
In 2026, Milan will host the Winter Olympic and Paralympic games for the first time, together with Cortina d'Ampezzo.
2026: Winter Olympics
In 2026, the successful re-branding of the city as a global capital of innovation has been instrumental in its successful bids for hosting large international events such as Winter Olympics.
