Brera's artistic quarter in Milan decays amid touristification and neglect
The historic Brera district in Milan, once a vibrant artistic hub, is suffering from severe degradation due to unchecked tourism, chaotic outdoor dining structures, and lack of urban maintenance. The neighborhood, home to the Brera Academy of Fine Arts and the Pinacoteca di Brera, has seen its narrow cobblestone streets cluttered with heterogeneous plastic dehors that block views of churches and historic facades. Many galleries and high-end brands like Gucci and Bottega Ghianda have relocated. Temporary anti-terrorism barriers, installed five years ago, remain and disfigure the piazza. The area missed out on Expo investments, resulting in poor lighting, insufficient trash bins, and neglected green spaces. Construction sites have stalled for years. The author calls for a comprehensive redesign of the pedestrian zone, replacing barriers with sculptures or planters, and subjecting all temporary structures to proper authorization to restore Brera's artistic identity.
Key facts
- Brera is a central Milan district known for the Brera Academy of Fine Arts and its historic artistic community.
- The area has deteriorated due to mass tourism, outdoor dining structures (dehors) that exploded during Covid, and neglect.
- Temporary plastic dehors block views of churches like Chiesa del Carmine and San Carpoforo, and even the Pinacoteca di Brera.
- Many galleries and luxury brands such as Gucci and Bottega Ghianda have left Brera.
- Anti-terrorism concrete guardrails have been in place for five years, disfiguring the piazza and streets.
- Brera did not benefit from Expo investments, leading to poor lighting, lack of trash bins, and neglected green spaces.
- Several construction sites have been stalled for years with greyed-out scaffolding.
- The author proposes replacing guardrails with sculptures or planters and redesigning the public space with proper authorization for dehors.
- The article was published on Artribune on February 2022.
- The author is Renata Cristina Mazzantini.
Entities
Artists
- Renata Cristina Mazzantini
Institutions
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera
- Pinacoteca di Brera
- Gucci
- Bottega Ghianda
- Amsa
- Comune di Milano
- Consiglio Comunale
- Soprintendenza
- Artribune
Locations
- Brera
- Milan
- Italy
- Via Fiori Chiari
- Via Madonnina
- Chiesa del Carmine
- Chiesa di San Carpoforo