Living in Città Studi, Milan
Affitto stanza singola tra privati Living in Città Studi, Milan - senza agenzia - Milan
Milan's university district, east of the centre: the Politecnico in Piazza Leonardo da Vinci and the science faculties of the Statale. Student life, a residential atmosphere and more affordable rents.
Città Studi is Milan's main university district, in the eastern part of the city. It developed largely at the beginning of the 20th century on what was then farmland: the complex of the Politecnico di Milano in Piazza Leonardo da Vinci was inaugurated in 1927. The name "city of studies" originally indicated the area occupied by the universities and later extended to the neighbourhood that grew up around it. The Politecnico (Leonardo campus) and the science faculties of the Università degli Studi di Milano (the Statale) are based here, along with important medical research institutes.
Who lives here
Italian and international students, university teaching staff and personnel, alongside a stable, middle-class resident population. The atmosphere is informal and residential, set to the rhythm of the academic year.
By day
University-district life: students, bicycles, lecture halls and laboratories. Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, with the monumental facade of the Politecnico, is the heart of the area. Città Studi is also home to major healthcare hubs, such as the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori (in Via Venezian, still active) and the Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta.
By night
Quiet, with the student bars and everyday venues. It is not a nightlife hub - those looking for nightlife find it elsewhere (Navigli, Porta Venezia). Here the evening is above all neighbourhood-based.
Getting around
The M2 green line serves the area with the Piola stop (right by the Politecnico) and Lambrate FS. On the surface the trams 33 and 19 connect Piazza Leonardo da Vinci and the Città Studi-Lambrate axis (the old tram 23 was discontinued in 2017 and replaced by the 19). The M1, M3 and M4 lines do not serve Città Studi: the reference is the green line. The centre is about ten minutes away.
Eating and shopping
The offering is geared towards students: snack bars, pizzerias, cafés and neighbourhood shops, together with the weekly local markets for fresh produce. Nothing spectacular, but practical and good value.
When NOT to choose it
If you are looking for nightlife or a "spectacular" district, you won't find them here. There is the continuous turnover typical of student areas. Finally, it's worth knowing that the area's university landscape is changing: the Statale is moving part of its science faculties towards the new MIND hub (former Expo site), with the conversion of some Città Studi buildings.
Città Studi works for students, researchers and those who want a quiet, residential, well-connected area with more affordable rents than the centre. Those looking for nightlife or a more "showcase" setting are better off in the Navigli or Porta Venezia. Next door is Lambrate, more post-industrial and creative.