Holidays in Italy and architecture: some suggestions for places you have to visit
For those who are looking for ideas for holidays in Italy and love architecture, our country certainly offers many opportunities, here are some suggestions on places to visit.
Italy is a country rich in history and architectural excellence, so much so that those who decide to take advantage of the summer holidays and weekends to explore the area are spoilt for choice. For lovers of architecture, here are some ideas for trips to discover contemporary Italian architecture.
In the city of Milan, considered the capital of fashion and design, in addition to modern works such as the Velasca Tower (1950s) by Studio BBPR or the Pirelli skyscraper, which in the last century was the tallest building in the city thanks to its 127 meters of reinforced concrete, there are many contemporary works.
Among the main examples are the Porta Nuova area, born from an urban redevelopment project and now you can find offices, luxury buildings and commercial spaces, as well as the recent park of the Tree Library. Here are Piazza Gae Aulenti, the Unicredit Tower and the Bosco Verticale (2014) by Stefano Boeri, a building that has become symbolic, especially when it comes to sustainability and how to bring greenery back into the city, so much so that it has been taken as an example for many other similar buildings.
Another very recent district not to be missed is City Life, whose total completion is scheduled for 2023 and which has taken the place of the old Fiera di Milano. The area covers more than 360 thousand square meters, with residential buildings, a park and 3 office towers, designed by Zaha Hadid, Daniel Libeskind and Arata Isozaki.
In the cultural field, are remarkable the buildings that house Herzog & De Meuron’s Feltrinelli Foundation (2016) and the Prada Foundation (2017) of Rem Koolhaas’ OMA studio, which combines the recovery of a former 20th century distelleria with new and contemporary buildings, are worth mentioning. The new Campus of Bocconi– in the process of being completed, is also worth a visit, as are some new residential complexes in which the principles of sustainable architecture and energy efficiency are being implemented.
Needless to say, Rome is a city rich in history, squares, museums, churches and palaces to visit. But for lovers of architecture, there is also an itinerary to discover a more contemporary Rome.
An obligatory stop is the MAXXI, the Museum of XXI Century Art inaugurated in 2010 and designed by Zaha Hadid, which consists of 8 volumes, with curved surfaces and covered with concrete on the outside.
A few years earlier, however, is the Auditorium Parco della Musica (2002) by Renzo Piano. It is a multifunctional centre for concerts and cultural events, which develops around a large amphitheatre, near which lead-covered volumes rise and recall the image of a beetle.
Massimiliano Fuksas, on the other hand, is the designer of the new Convention Centre, inaugurated in 2016 and awarded in 2012 by the Royal Institute of British Architects in London with the Best Building Site. The project consists mainly of 3 parts: an underground, the steel and glass case that houses the Cloud and the Blade, a hotel with 440 rooms.
Some contemporary style churches are also worth a visit – such as the Church of the Holy Face of Jesus by architects Piero Sartogo and Nathalie Grenon or the Church of God the Merciful Father by Meier, consisting of 3 white self-cleaning reinforced concrete sails with large windows.
Anche la città di Napoli offre moltissime alternative per passare interessanti giornate alla scoperta della città.
In addition to the historic center and various modernist architecture dating back to the 900, one of the main surprises of Naples are located underground.
The city, in fact, can boast a very particular metro network, whose stations are real art galleries. The metro project has given rise to places rich in colour – mosaics, installations, or real exhibitions of art objects, such as sculptures or photographs. Among the most famous stations are Toledo, University, Dante, Museum, Garibaldi, Materdei, Vanvitelli and City Hall.
Un’alternativa alla città è una vacanza in Trentino, spesso scelta dagli amanti della montagna, ma che offre molto anche per chi è appassionato di Architettura.
In the region there are also works by well-known architects such as Renzo Piano and Zaha Hadid. Renzo Piano designed the MUSE, the Science Museum of Trento, which is spread over six levels of height and is characterized by a profile that recalls the image of the peaks of the Dolomites and its sustainability, so much so that it has received the LEED Gold certification.
Close to the museum, also by Renzo Piano, is the Le Albere district, the result of the redevelopment of the area where the Michelin was located.
Another important museum is the Messner Mountain Museum Corones by Zaha Hadid, opened in 2015 on the top of Kronplatz at 2,275 metres. Dedicated to the mountains and lovers of these places, it presents itself as a sort of observatory, thanks to the opening of three windows at the top of the mountain and a terrace overlooking the surrounding landscape.
Another interesting museum architecture is the MART in Rovereto, designed by Mario Botta and built in 2002. The main element is a steel and glass dome overlooking the access square, while the yellow stone facades of Vicenza recall the 18th century buildings of the nearby Corso.
Finally, for a bit of relaxation you can reach the Terme di Merano, designed by Matteo Thun and completed in 2005. In this complex the architect sought continuity between inside and outside, through the use of transparency. He created a glass cube, which at night is illuminated in a special way, with visual effects and colours.
There really could be many more places to mention. For example, to the list you can add places like Ivrea, where you can retrace the industrial (and architectural) history of the Olivetti era. Here you can find a real open-air museum, the MAAM, the Museum of Modern Architecture.
Gli edifici risalenti all’epoca sono molti, tra cui la famosa fabbrica in mattoni rossi, le opere di Figini e Pollini (ampliamenti della fabbrica, la scuola materna o anche l’edificio per i servizi sociali), il centro di formazione di Vittoria, la mensa di Gardella e i vari quartieri residenziali per gli operai.
For those who prefer contemporary architecture and love wine, however, the perfect destination is Tuscany, where there are more than one winery worth visiting. In addition to wines, the structures of Cantina Antinori (Florence), Cantina Petra (Livorno) or Cantina Rocca di Frassinello (Grosseto) are definitely interesting for their architectural value, thanks to the ability of the designers to combine functionality, history, landscape. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
by: Arch. Gaia Mussi
https://www.infobuild.it/approfondimenti/vacanze-italia-architettura-suggerimenti-posti-non-perdere/