Milan's historic Palazzo dello Sport to be auctioned for cultural center

The former Padiglione 3 of the Milan Fair, originally built in 1923 as the city's first sports palace, is set to be auctioned by the Municipality of Milan. Located in the modern CityLife district overlooking Piazza IV Febbraio, the 20,000-square-meter structure has undergone a €6 million restoration by Citylife spa, led by Studio Nicolin of Milan, which preserved its Art Nouveau features. The building is subject to historical constraints by the Soprintendenza, which mandates public-interest uses: cultural, exhibition, or sports, with up to 2,550 square meters allowed for commercial purposes. The auction will accept sealed bids until December 16, 2019, with a starting price of €14.2 million, followed by a public auction on December 18 with increments of at least €200,000 every three minutes. The goal is to transform the venue into a vital cultural hub attracting international audiences, with hopes for foundation and institutional interest. The building once hosted the first summer season of La Scala in 1946 after WWII bombings and features a 32-meter-high elliptical dome, a rooftop garden with restaurant and play areas, and a Kunsthalle facing CityLife Park. Roberto Tasca, assessor to the Demanio, stated the auction ensures transparency and competition while funding city interventions, especially in suburbs.