What to do this summer in Milan

The months of July and August are complicated for those living in Milan who cannot leave the city during the weekend. Things to do seem to be scarce and decrease more and more as summer progresses, despite the Lombard capital being known for its endless list of events every weekend. So, here is a series of addresses, events, and things to do for those staying in Milan during the hottest months of the year.

Milan's best open air cinemas

In big cities, attending open-air cinemas is a very popular activity in summer. It allows you to watch or re-appreciate the titles of the just-passed season, as well as new releases or restored films – taking advantage of the cool evening air. In Milan, the main open-air cinema event is AriAnteo: organized by Anteo cinema, it runs until late September in some of the city's iconic locations, including Palazzo Reale, the Fabbrica del Vapore, and the Chiostro dell’Incoronata with a rich and varied program along with several special initiatives. About five minutes by car from the San Siro stadium, there is Mare culturale urbano, an artistic production center that organizes numerous cultural events, including the CineMare film series, which offers some of the most interesting films of the year. Here, musical events and activities for those with children are also often organized; within Mare culturale urbano there is also the Cascina Torrette restaurant led by chef Enrico Capparelli, a café-patisserie, a brewery, and a pizzeria. Finally, the RiGenerazione Cinema project in Bicocca deserves a mention: the initiative, carried out by Cinemino in collaboration with BiM, revolves around three thematic strands, offering films and documentaries that are not easy to find in cinemas, such as Thelma and Louise by Ridley Scott (July 23) or Bicycle Thieves by Vittorio De Sica (July 30).

Must-see exhibitions in Milan

Milan in summer is full of exhibitions, usually less crowded than in the colder months. Among the many, Dal Cuore alle Mani. Dolce&Gabbana, at Palazzo Reale until the end of July, dedicated to the maison's most important creations, deserves mention. The PAC (Pavilion of Contemporary Art) this summer presents an exhibition dedicated to the sound works of Milanese artist Liliana Moro: active since the 1980s, her works mix different languages including sculpture, performance, or video. At Fondazione Prada, on the other hand, it will be possible to visit the exhibition dedicated to the sculptures of Pino Pascali until late September: despite his artistic career lasting only a few years, his works are a fundamental part of the history of contemporary Italian art. Finally, Io sono un drago. The true story of Alessandro Mendini is the title of the extensive retrospective that the Triennale Milano has dedicated to the Milanese architect and designer, and can be visited until October.

Summer concerts in Milan

Even during the summer, music events in Milan are not lacking. In July, for example, at the Circolo Magnolia, near the Idroscalo, the Australian artist Chet Faker (Friday 12), the French DJ duo Polo & Pan (Sunday 14), or the German DJ Ben Klock (Friday 19) will perform. And again: on July 17, the American rapper Aminé will perform for the first time in Italy, on July 23 the Italian indie-rock band Sick Tamburo, while on the 26th it's the turn of the German producer Christian Löffler. Staying in the center of Milan, there are concerts and shows at the Castello Sforzesco, including the live performance of Calexico, the historic American alternative country group, or the Cinematic Orchestra. In addition, at the end of August, there is the concert of the artist Yves Tumor, highly appreciated among electronic music enthusiasts – no wonder he was among the headliners of the last edition of Club To Club. On July 19, also at Castello Sforzesco, there will be the live recording of the famous podcast Tintoria, with comedians Daniele Tinti and Stefano Rapone. For those interested in simply dancing, the Balera dell’Ortica, in the homonymous district south of the Lambrate station, continues to be a certainty: there are evenings of ballroom, swing, and boogie woogie, attended by both young and old, and it is also possible to dine with simple and affordable dishes.

Milan's best summer pools

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Even staying in the city, you can go swimming in the city's open-air public pools, such as the Romano in Città Studi, the Cardellino in the Lorenteggio district, or the Sant’Abbondio, not far from the Navigli. In addition to these, there are the Bagni Misteriosi, in Porta Romana, which also has a coworking area, and on certain days you can swim until 10 pm. Another place where you can swim is the Idroscalo, near Linate airport, just beyond Milan's eastern ring road: it is a large park with a lake used for various recreational activities – including canoeing, rowing, and sport fishing; in summer, part of the lake is open for swimming: there is a beach and a large equipped area, and you can also go water skiing.