History of Milan in Timeline

Milan is a major city in northern Italy, serving as the capital of the Lombardy region. It is the largest Italian city by urban area and the second most populous, with a city proper population of roughly 1.4 million and a metropolitan area ranging from 7.5 to 8.2 million. Recognized as the economic heart of Italy and a significant financial hub in Europe, Milan holds considerable global economic importance.

1901: Palazzo Castiglioni construction

Construction of Palazzo Castiglioni began in 1901.

1902: Establishment of Bocconi University

In 1902, Bocconi University, a private management and finance university, was established.

1903: Palazzo Castiglioni completed

Construction of Palazzo Castiglioni completed in 1903.

1904: Premiere of Madama Butterfly

In 1904, the opera Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini premiered in Milan at La Scala opera house.

1906: Universal Exposition Hosted

In 1906, Milan hosted the Universal Exposition.

1906: Simplon Railway Tunnel Opening

In 1906, the Simplon railway tunnel opened, making Milan the major South European rail hub for goods and passenger transport.

1909: Publication of the Manifesto of Futurism

In 1909, Filippo Marinetti wrote the "Manifesto of Futurism" (Manifesto Futuristico), declaring Milan as "grande...tradizionale e futurista".

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1919: Orient Express Started Operating

From 1919, Milan and Venice were among the main stops of the Orient Express.

October 1922: Mussolini Launches March on Rome

In October 1922, Benito Mussolini launched his March on Rome from Milan.

1923: Galleria del Corso Construction

Construction of the Galleria del Corso began in 1923.

1924: Foundation of the University of Milan

In 1924, the University of Milan (also known as the "State University") was founded, becoming the largest public teaching and research university in the city.

1926: Premiere of Turandot

In 1926, the opera Turandot by Puccini premiered in Milan at La Scala opera house.

1927: Amatori Rugby Milano Founded

In 1927, Amatori Rugby Milano, a decorated rugby team in Italy, was founded in Milan.

1931: Galleria del Corso Completed

Construction of the Galleria del Corso was completed in 1931.

1931: Central Railway Station Inaugurated

In 1931, the Central railway station was inaugurated.

1931: Foundation of the Pontifical Ambrosian Institute of Sacred Music

In 1931, the Pontifical Ambrosian Institute of Sacred Music was founded by Cardinal A.I. Schuster.

1934: FIFA World Cup Matches

In 1934, Milan hosted matches during the FIFA World Cup.

1940: Raise according to the rules by the Holy See

In 1940, the Pontifical Ambrosian Institute of Sacred Music, was raised according to the rules by the Holy See.

1943: German Forces Occupy Northern Italy

In 1943, after Italy surrendered, German forces occupied and plundered most of northern Italy.

1943: Italian colonies up to East African campaign

Up to 1943, all the three countries of Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somali were Italian colonies.

April 1945: Mussolini Executed

On 29 April 1945, the Italian resistance seized control of Milan and executed Mussolini.

1951: Population Growth Begins

In 1951, Milan's population began to grow due to internal migration.

1952: Milan's Fashion Exports

In 1952, Milan's fashion exports reached US$726 million, marking the city's growing prominence in the fashion industry.

1955: Growth of Milan's Fashion Exports

By 1955, Milan's fashion exports had dramatically increased to US$72.5 billion, underscoring the city's rapid economic and industrial development.

1956: Construction of Pirelli Tower

In 1956, Milan experienced extreme urban expansion driven by the demand for new residential and commercial areas, marked by the beginning of construction of Gio Ponti's Pirelli Tower (1956–60) and the Velasca Tower (1956–58).

1958: Pallacanestro Milano 1958

In 1958, Pallacanestro Milano 1958 was active as one of the professional Lega Basket clubs in Milan.

1960: Bresso Airfield Operations

Since 1960, Bresso Airfield has primarily served as a general aviation airfield for flying club activity, touristic flights, and air taxi services.

1961: Historic average of snow in Milan

The historic average of snow in Milan's area is 25 centimetres in the period between 1961.

1964: Compasso d'Oro Award

In 1964, the architectural project of the Milan Metro and the signs, designed by Franco Albini, Franca Helg and Bob Noorda, received the Compasso d'Oro award.

1967: Population Reaches 1.7 Million

By 1967, Milan's population had grown to 1.7 million.

1968: Establishment of University IULM

In 1968, the University Institute of Languages and Communication (University IULM) was established, offering courses on public relations.

December 1969: Piazza Fontana Bombing

On 12 December 1969, a bomb exploded at the National Agrarian Bank in Piazza Fontana, killing 17 people and injuring 88.

1970: Conservatives Govern Lombardy

The conservatives have governed the Lombardy region almost uninterruptedly since 1970.

1973: Milan's Peak Population

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, the farmlands and woodlands north of Milan's urban area were protected as the regional park, Parco Nord Milano.

1980: UEFA European Championship Matches

In 1980, Milan hosted matches during the UEFA European Championship.

1980: Italian Grand Prix

In 1980, the Monza Circuit, near Milan, did not host the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, marking one of the few exceptions since the competition began.

January 1985: Record Snowfall

In January 1985, the Milan area experienced a record snowfall of 90 centimetres (35 in).

1990: FIFA World Cup Matches Hosted

In 1990, Milan hosted matches during the FIFA World Cup.

1990: Establishment of Parco Agricolo Sud Milano

In 1990, the farmlands and woodlands south of Milan's urban area were protected as the regional park, Parco Agricolo Sud Milano.

1990: Historic average of snow in Milan

The historic average of snow in Milan's area is 25 centimetres in the period up to 1990.

1995: Closure of Falck steel group site in Sesto San Giovanni

The Falck steel group closed its site in Sesto San Giovanni in 1995.

1997: Renovation of Hechal David u-Mordechai Temple

In 1997, the interior of Milan's main city synagogue, Hechal David u-Mordechai Temple, was renovated.

1998: Establishment of University of Milano-Bicocca

In 1998, the University of Milano-Bicocca was established as the newest institution of higher education in science and technology in the city.

1999: Administrative Reform

Before the 1999 administrative reform, Milan was subdivided into twenty districts.

2000: Legislative Decree 267/2000

The urban organisation is governed by the Legislative Decree 267/2000 or Unified Text on Local Administration (Testo Unico degli Enti Locali).

2003: World Rowing Championships

In 2003, Milan held the World Rowing Championships, showcasing its capacity to host major sporting events.

2004: Closure of Alfa Romeo site in Arese

The Alfa Romeo automobile company closed its site in Arese in 2004.

2007: Premiere of Teneke

In 2007, the opera Teneke, by Fabio Vacchi premiered in Milan.

2008: City-Wide Network of Bike Paths

Since 2008, Milan initiated the implementation of a city-wide network of bike paths to combat congestion and air pollution.

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 link Milan to Rome, Naples and Turin, shortening travel times with other major cities in Italy.

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, 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 every day.

January 2012: Foehn winds temperature rise

On 22 January 2012, Foehn winds caused the daily high temperature to reach 16 °C (61 °F).

February 2012: Foehn winds temperature rise

On 22 February 2012, Foehn winds caused the daily high temperature to reach 21 °C (70 °F).

2012: Suspension of Partnership

In 2012, Milan suspended its partnership with Saint Petersburg due to the Russian government's prohibition on "homosexual propaganda".

2012: Opening of New Section in Palazzo della Banca Commerciale Italiana

In 2012, a new section was opened in the Palazzo della Banca Commerciale Italiana, hosting artworks.

2013: Euroleague Final

In 2013, the Mediolanum Forum in Milan hosted the final of the 2013–14 Euroleague.

2013: Population of administrative comune

In 2013, the population of the administrative comune was 1,324,169.

2014: Kingsgrove Milan Wins Championship

In 2014, Kingsgrove Milan won the Serie A championship in cricket.

2014: Michelin-selected Restaurants in Milan

In 2014, Milan had 157 Michelin-selected restaurants, including three 2-Michelin-starred restaurants such as Cracco, Sadler and il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, highlighting the city's innovative cuisine and design.

2014: Women's Volleyball World Championship

In 2014, Milan hosted the final games of the Women's Volleyball World Championship.

2014: City Council Agreement on New Mosque Construction

In 2014, the City Council of Milan agreed on the construction of a new mosque, amidst political debate.

January 2015: Metropolitan Municipalities Operative

Since 1 January 2015, the urban area of Milan is one of the 15 Metropolitan municipalities.

April 2015: Opening of Museo delle Culture (MUDEC)

In April 2015, Museo delle Culture (MUDEC) opened its doors.

2015: Universal Exposition Hosted

In 2015, Milan hosted the Universal Exposition.

2015: Milan's Built-up Urban Area Population

In 2015, Milan's contiguous built-up urban area was home to 5.27 million people.

2015: Expo hosted in Milan

In 2015, the Expo was hosted in Milan.

2015: Population of Metropolitan City of Milan

In 2015, the population of the Metropolitan City of Milan was estimated at 3,196,825.

June 2016: Giuseppe Sala Appointed Metropolitan Mayor

Since 21 June 2016, Giuseppe Sala 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.

2016: Champions League Final at San Siro

In 2016, the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro) in Milan hosted the European Cup/Champions League final, where Real Madrid defeated Atlético Madrid 5–3 in a penalty shoot-out.

2017: Forbes Ranking

According to the Forbes 2017 ranking, Bocconi University also ranks as the fifth-best one-year MBA course in the world.

March 2018: Regional Election Victory

On 26 March 2018, Attilio Fontana led a centre-right coalition to victory in the regional election.

2018: Milan's Cost of Living Ranking

According to Swiss bank UBS, Milan was the 7th most expensive city in the world in 2018.

2018: Estimate of Muslim Population

As of 2018, the Muslim population in Milan was estimated at 9% of the city's population.

2018: ATM Carries Passengers

In 2018, Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (ATM) carried about 776 million passengers.

2018: Visitors to Fiera Milano

In 2018, Fiera Milano had more than 4 million visitors.

2018: World Figure Skating Championships

In 2018, Milan hosted the World Figure Skating Championships.

2018: International Arrivals in Milan

In 2018, Milan ranked as the world's 15th-most-visited city with 8.81 million registered international arrivals, up 9.92% on the previous year.

2018: Financial Times Ranking

In 2018, the Financial Times ranked Bocconi University the sixth-best business school in Europe.

2019: Milan's Cost of Living Ranking

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, Milan was the 11th-most-expensive city in Europe and the 22nd-most-expensive city in the world in 2019.

2019: Realization of Bike Lanes

During the COVID pandemic in 2019, 35 km of bike lanes were realized on short notice in Milan, to relieve pressure on the subway occupation.

2020: QS World University Rankings

In 2020, QS World University Rankings ranked Bocconi University seventh worldwide and third in Europe in business and management studies.

2020: Ranking of University of Milano-Bicocca

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 of about €61,200 (US$64,300) ranked among Italy's highest.

2022: Restoration of Partnership

As of 2022, the partnership between Milan and St. Petersburg was restored, and St. Petersburg is listed on Milan's official list of twin towns.

2022: Polytechnic University of Milan Ranking

In 2022, the Polytechnic University of Milan ranked as the 13th best in the world for 'Engineering & Technology', according to the QS World University Rankings.

2022: EuroBasket

Milan was one of the host cities of the EuroBasket 2022.

May 2023: Milan Suburban Railway Service

As of May 2023, the Milan suburban railway service, operated by Trenord, comprises 11 S lines connecting the metropolitan area with the city center.

December 2023: Milan's Population

As of December 2023, the official estimated population of the City of Milan was 1,417,597 according to the municipality's statistical office.

2023: Foreign Residents in Milan

As of 2023, approximately 301,149 foreign residents lived in the municipality of Milan, representing 21.2% of the total resident population.

2023: Far East Asian Community in Milan

As of 2023, the Far East Asian community in Milan, including those from the Philippines and China, made up about a quarter of its foreign population, around 76,000 out of 301,000.

2023: Nominal GDP of Milan and Lombardy

In 2023, Milan and Lombardy had a nominal GDP of €195 billion ($205 billion) and €480.6 billion ($505 billion), respectively.

2023: Seamen Milano joins European League of Football

In 2023, Seamen Milano joined the professional European League of Football.

2023: Milan Airport System

In 2023, the Milan airport system handled traffic of over 51.4 million passengers and around 700,000 tons of goods, and the Rome airport system had 44.4 million passengers.

2024: Via Monte Napoleone, the world's most expensive street

In 2024, Via Monte Napoleone in Milan, is considered to be the world's most expensive street.

2024: Milan Ranked Most Walkable City

In 2024, a study published in Nature and reported by The Economist ranked Milan as the most walkable city in the world.

2024: Milan Province Municipality Population Estimate

In mid-2024, estimates suggested that 3,251,166 people lived in Milan province-level municipality.

2026: Winter Olympics

In 2026 Milan is set to host the Winter Olympic games.

2026: Winter Olympics and Paralympics

In 2026, Milan is set to host the Winter Olympics and the Winter Paralympics jointly with Cortina d'Ampezzo.

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