# Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), Milan > Bosco Verticale, the Vertical Forest, is a pair of residential towers in Milan's new Porta Nuova district whose balconies hold hundreds of trees — one of Europe's best-known modern buildings. You can't go inside, as they're private flats, but viewing from outside is free at any time; 20–30 minutes is enough with the park next door. Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/bosco-verticale - City: [Milan](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan), Italy - YesGo score: 51/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 30 min - Opening hours: Outside: any time; no public access inside - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free, viewed from outside - Inside: No — private apartments - Height: ≈ 111 m and 76 m - Best view: From the Biblioteca degli Alberi park and Via de Castillia - Time needed: 20–30 minutes with the park - Metro: Isola (M5) or Garibaldi FS (M2, M5) - Coordinates: 45.48583, 9.19028 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **2014** — completed to designs by Boeri Studio (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 900** — trees on the terraces of the two towers (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 111 m** — height of the taller tower; the other is ≈ 76 m (source: English Wikipedia) - **2014** — International Highrise Award for the best new high-rise (source: English Wikipedia) - **Isola** — the neighbourhood where the towers stand (source: English Wikipedia) ## A short history Milanese architect **Stefano Boeri** (Boeri Studio) designed the towers, completed in **2014** as part of the regeneration of **Porta Nuova**. The idea was simple and bold: instead of clearing trees for housing, lift the forest up onto the balconies of high-rises, where it shades flats in summer, lets sun through in winter and filters noise and dust. It quickly became famous: in **2014** Bosco Verticale won the **International Highrise Award** for the world's best new tall building, and "vertical forests" have since sprung up in other countries. For a city long seen as grey and businesslike, the towers became a new symbol. Porta Nuova itself was wasteland between two railway stations only a few years ago. ## How the towers work The two residential towers stand about **111 m** and **76 m** tall. Each flat's balcony is staggered from its neighbours and juts out so the plants get space and light. The terraces hold around **900 trees** — oaks, maples, beeches, pines, apple trees — plus thousands of shrubs and perennials, chosen for wind and orientation at height. Residents don't garden themselves: a team of arborist-climbers, the **"flying gardeners"**, abseil from the roof a few times a year to prune, and irrigation is automatic. The façade changes with the seasons — blossom in spring, deep green in summer, gold and red in autumn. ## What to see nearby - **Bosco Verticale** — the two tree-covered towers. - **Biblioteca degli Alberi** — the new park at their feet. - **Piazza Gae Aulenti** — a circular plaza with fountains and towers. - **UniCredit Tower** — Italy's tallest skyscraper with its spire. - **Isola** — cafés, street art and a weekend market. - **Corso Garibaldi** — a pedestrian street towards Brera. > **Where to look from** The best view of both towers is from the Biblioteca degli Alberi park, which starts right at their base, and from Via Gaetano de Castillia. Autumn colour and evening lights in the windows are the prettiest. You can't go in — please respect the residents and don't try the entrance. ## How to get there 1. Metro M5 to **Isola**, 3 minutes on foot. 2. Metro M2 or M5 to **Garibaldi FS**, 7 minutes via Piazza Gae Aulenti. 3. From the [Pinacoteca di Brera](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/pinacoteca-di-brera), 20 minutes' walk up Corso Garibaldi. 4. From [Milan Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/milan-cathedral), 15 minutes by metro. ## Is Bosco Verticale worth it? Yes, if modern Milan interests you: after the Gothic Duomo and Renaissance churches, Porta Nuova shows a different city of glass, gardens and new squares. The visit is free and short, and pairs well with Brera and Corso Garibaldi. If you only love old architecture, you can glimpse the towers from the train at Garibaldi station. It works with children too: the park is big, with lawns and play areas, and in summer kids splash in the fountains on Piazza Gae Aulenti. In the evening the area fills with bars and terraces. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Take the metro to Isola - [ ] View the towers from the park - [ ] Walk on to Piazza Gae Aulenti - [ ] Don't try to go in — it's housing - [ ] Stay for dinner in Isola ## Views in Milan: compare and choose Viewpoints in Milan rated by YesGo. - [Milan Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/milan-cathedral) — YesGo score 63/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Paid - [Bosco Verticale](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/bosco-verticale) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free - [Lake Como](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/lake-como) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 8 h · Free; transport and villas paid - [Parco Sempione](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/parco-sempione) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free ## Modern and historic Milan The Pinacoteca di Brera, a walk to Bosco Verticale and Piazza Gae Aulenti, then an evening on the Navigli. 1. [Pinacoteca di Brera](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/pinacoteca-di-brera) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Paid 2. [Bosco Verticale](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/bosco-verticale) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free 3. [Navigli](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/navigli) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free ## Don't mix it up Milan's Bosco Verticale was the first and is the best known, but not the only one: similar tree-covered towers by the same architect have since been built in other cities in Europe and Asia. ## Tips - No entry — view from outside. - Best seen from the park below. - Golden trees in autumn. - Isola metro is closest. ## Questions ### Can you go inside Bosco Verticale? No, they're private apartments; you view them from outside, free and at any time. ### Where is Bosco Verticale? In the Isola neighbourhood by Porta Nuova, next to Isola metro station (M5). ### How many trees are on Bosco Verticale? Around 900 trees, plus thousands of shrubs and plants. ### Who designed Bosco Verticale? Architect Stefano Boeri (Boeri Studio); the towers were completed in 2014. ### Where's the best view of Bosco Verticale? From the Biblioteca degli Alberi park at the base and from Via de Castillia. ## How we checked History, design and awards from English Wikipedia. ## Sources - English Wikipedia, Bosco Verticale --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.