France / Grenoble / Development

Grenoble: topless bathing and burkini authorised in municipal pools

The highly contested decision was approved yesterday with a minor margin

May 17, 2022 11:15

Bulgaria / Development / Energy efficiency

Lilyana Pavlova, EIB: The crisis is a catalyst for a green transition

"Cohesion policy has changed to meet the challenges of the day," said the Vice-President of the European Investment Bank at today’s conference 'The Day after tomorrow: Policies for Growth in Sofia'

May 13, 2022 14:40

Austria / Vienna / Culture and Tourism / Economy and Finance

Start-up festival will turn Vienna into an international business hotspot this spring

ViennaUP’22 will bring people from over 40 countries to the Austrian capital in a business festival fuelled by the unique local atmosphere

May 10, 2022 14:41

Luxembourg / Culture and Tourism / Economy and Finance

How much does it cost to raise a teenager in Luxembourg?

Research published by Statec shows that raising two teenagers could easily cost more than 1,000 euros

May 5, 2022 16:31

Portugal / Lisbon / Politics and Reforms

Lisbon’s first Citizens Council took place over the weekend

An exciting avenue for random democratic participation

May 16, 2022 13:33

Belgium / Brussels / Green City / Politics and Reforms

Etterbeek in Belgium wants to use citizen savings to fund its green policies

The scheme was proposed by Mayor Vincent De Wolf to help boost budgets after these were depleted during the pandemic

May 13, 2022 16:21

Czechia / Plzen / Innovation and Research

Pilsen to showcase innovative technologies at three-day festival

Innovating Pilsen will take place during the first week of June

May 16, 2022 17:41

Sweden / Helsingborg / Innovation and Research / Public Spaces

Here’s a look at some of the urban design marvels on show at H22 City Expo

Helsingborg shows the creative power of architecture

May 12, 2022 15:56

Lithuania / Vilnius / Digital transformation / Welfare and Health

Vilnius gets more precise about air quality with online pollen map

The project is the first of its kind in Lithuania

May 13, 2022 16:49

Luxembourg / Luxembourg / Culture and Tourism / Digital transformation

Luxembourg: Futuristic VR tech will transport visitors to the past

It offers the chance to experience the city as it was in 1867

May 13, 2022 14:47

Spain / Energy efficiency / Public Spaces

This totem charges phones with solar energy

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria adds new type of urban furniture to the landscape

May 16, 2022 17:55

Bulgaria / Development / Energy efficiency

Lilyana Pavlova, EIB: The crisis is a catalyst for a green transition

"Cohesion policy has changed to meet the challenges of the day," said the Vice-President of the European Investment Bank at today’s conference 'The Day after tomorrow: Policies for Growth in Sofia'

May 13, 2022 14:40

Austria / Czechia / Prague / Vienna / Mobility

Austrian Climate Minister wants to cut taxes on cross-border rail tickets

The announcement came just as authorities presented their plan for a Vienna-Prague direct train route

May 17, 2022 12:46

Germany / Munich / Mobility

Munich: If you sow cycle highways, you reap cyclists

The Bavarian capital wants to construct a massive, city-wide cycling expressway system by 2025

May 16, 2022 17:07

Portugal / Public Spaces

Portuguese town employs sheep and donkeys in greenery maintenance

Countryside depopulation has forced the local government to get creative

May 17, 2022 12:38

Spain / Energy efficiency / Public Spaces

This totem charges phones with solar energy

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria adds new type of urban furniture to the landscape

May 16, 2022 17:55

Austria / Vienna / Culture and Tourism

4000-square-metre art piece will cover one of the tallest buildings in Vienna

The Ringturm has been used as a giant canvas since 2006. After a two-year break due to COVID-19, it will be wrapped in Hungarian artist Dora Maurer’s artwork called ‘Together’

May 16, 2022 13:13

Luxembourg / Luxembourg / Culture and Tourism / Digital transformation

Luxembourg: Futuristic VR tech will transport visitors to the past

It offers the chance to experience the city as it was in 1867

May 13, 2022 14:47

Luxembourg / Education and Sport / Mobility

A campaign in Luxembourg will create bike-buddy groups

The Grand Duchy remains one of the most car-dependent countries in the EU, so the government is trying to break people's commuting habits

May 16, 2022 15:23

Finland / Helsinki / Education and Sport / Welfare and Health

Helsinki offers refugees discounts for cultural and leisure services

One must present their residence card or a certificate confirming they have received asylum to be eligible for the discounts

May 13, 2022 11:51

Greece / Welfare and Health

Maroussi holds festival for the protection of stray animals

The Greek municipality is encouraging citizens to adopt four-legged friends

May 17, 2022 13:51

Sweden / Public Spaces / Welfare and Health

Swedes find a way to climb Mount Everest without leaving their hometowns

The successful challenge that lets people discover a new purpose for local hills is back

May 16, 2022 17:02

Milan

Mayor

Giuseppe Sala

View old mayors

Back in time, Milan was the capital of the Western Roman Empire, the Duchy of Milan and the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. Nowadays, only a few traces of the Roman period remain in the city.

One of the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire was the barbaric invasions coming from Northern Europe and Asia. In 539 AD Milan was sacked and its role of capital was lost.

During the XII century a remarkable independence movement - called the Comuni, developed in many towns of Northern Italy. The Comuni fought against the hegemony of the German emperors. Milan economically dominated in the region and has played a major role in the Comuni movement.

The period of democratic government came to an end when power was seized by the old Milanese Visconti family from 1277 to 1447. They gave the city political and cultural supremacy and international renown. Under Visconti rule, the construction of the Duomo and of the Castle began.

After 1447 there were 3 years of republican rule. In 1450, Francesco Sforza, son-in-law of the last Visconti duke and captain of the Milanese army, took over command of Milan. The Sforza family's rule coincided with the Renaissance years in the country.

In the early XVI century, Northern Italy became one of the territories contested by the French and the Spanish monarchies. The Spanish prevailed, and the city was governed by them for nearly two centuries.

The great European wars of the late XVII and early XVIII centuries brought Milan under the domination of the Austrian Imperial dynasty of the Hapsburgs. The city experienced a recovery which encompassed its economy, the functioning of its public administration, culture and arts, education and scientific development.

During the wars that followed the French Revolution of 1789, Milan came under French control. It became capital of the Cisalpine Republic and, thereafter, of the so-called 'Regno Italico', which was governed by relatives of Napoleon and comprised nearly the whole of Northern Italy.

In 1815 the Austrians returned to Milan after Napoleon's defeat. In 1848 the city rebelled against the Austro-Hungarians. In 1859 it became part of the Savoy Kingdom.

In the Kingdom of Italy Milan rapidly became a financial and industrial centre. The city center of Milan was soon taken over by banks and insurance companies.

In 1919 in Milan was founded the Fascist party. During Fascism were built the Stazione Centrale (Central Station) and the Triennale.

Milan has emerged as Italy's major centre for commerce, finance, publishing and as the country capital of the fashion, design, media and advanced service sectors.

Italy / Milan / Digital transformation / Education and Sport

Guided VR tour in Milan helps visitors experience climate change first-hand

An innovative way to augment the surrounding reality and look beyond our current context

Apr 13, 2022 15:28

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Florence / Milan / Culture and Tourism / Economy and Finance

Florence and Milan sign Charter of values of Italian catering

The document aims to give the sector agency in safeguarding traditions

Mar 30, 2022 14:02

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Politics and Reforms

City of Milan will lobby for liberalization of soft drugs in Italy

The city’s mayor backs the initiative

Mar 16, 2022 12:59

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Culture and Tourism

Russia demands the return of works of art loaned to Milan

There’s a rupture in the cultural relations between cities, too

Mar 14, 2022 13:57

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Green City

Milan’s canals are filled with plastic straws

More than a month after the European directive banning the sale of disposable plastics entered into force

Mar 01, 2022 16:32

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Mobility

Milan set to become slower, greener and cleaner with the new Air and Climate Plan

30 km/h will be the common speed in the city in the nearest future

Feb 24, 2022 15:57

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Development / Social City

Milan City Council offers spaces in social housing for SME development

It’s a way to boost the economic life in the areas of social housing

Feb 15, 2022 13:08

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Mobility

From Genoa to Milan, in less than an hour by train

The high-speed rail connection may increase the importance of Genoa as a commercial port

Feb 11, 2022 15:32

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Rome / Digital transformation / Mobility

Milan, Rome and Naples to field test MaaS platform

Milan is also the first city in Italy to host an experimental laboratory for public transit

Feb 09, 2022 17:51

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Mobility

Flying taxis take off in Milan in 2026

To coincide with the 2026 Winter Olympics there

Jan 26, 2022 17:55

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Development / Mobility

Milan to have possibly the largest urban cycling network in the world

From puzzle pieces to connectedness

Jan 25, 2022 15:43

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Digital transformation

Milan speeds up ID card issuing with new automatic photo booths

No more scanning errors and lines in the civic service offices

Jan 06, 2022 16:13

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Innovation and Research / Mobility

Milan’s Linate Airport now fills private jets with sustainable fuel

It is the first in Italy to provide such a service

Dec 29, 2021 15:21

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

France / Italy / Milan / Paris / Mobility

Trenitalia challenges TGV’s high-speed monopoly in France

From Milan to Paris in less than 7 hours

Dec 20, 2021 12:48

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Economy and Finance

Record length of streets get Christmas lights in Milan

The brightness is thanks to stronger-than-ever participation from the private sector, pointing to signs of economic recovery

Dec 01, 2021 17:46

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Spain / Sweden / Barcelona / Helsingborg / Milan / Growing City

UNDRR names first 4 European cities to become Resilience Hubs

Barcelona, Greater Manchester, Helsingborg and Milan comprise four of the first six cities awarded the title

Nov 18, 2021 14:10

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Rome / Turin / Politics and Reforms

The left takes Italy’s large cities, the right stronger in small towns

Rome is headed for second round of voting, but it will definitely have a new mayor

Oct 05, 2021 12:40

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Education and Sport / Social City

Italy fights educational poverty with ‘light centres’

A new one is planned in the city of Milan

Oct 01, 2021 15:31

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Rome / Turin / Politics and Reforms

Italian local elections are taking place on 3 and 4 October

Less than a third of the country’s municipalities are participating, but the major cities will be up for grabs

Sep 28, 2021 15:11

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Digital transformation / Public Spaces

Milanese police will know if cars have valid documents thanks to smart camera

The device is known as ‘eagle eye’ in Italy

Aug 31, 2021 17:50

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Digital transformation / Green City

Polluting drivers in Milan will get a choice on their driving limitations

The MoVe-In project will restrict city cars with their driven distance rather than with their time availability

Aug 10, 2021 17:43

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Development / Public Spaces

Milan awards a project that reunites two sides lying across a railway track

Nodo Bovisa is named after the northern district of the Italian city

Jun 02, 2021 17:10

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Public Spaces / Social City

Milan and UNICEF unveil a children-only city garden

Honouring the 30th anniversary of Italy’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

May 28, 2021 16:18

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Culture and Tourism / Digital transformation

Milan and Airbnb find a working solution for ‘temporary residents’

Long-term visitors to the city can now sign convenient online rental contracts

May 11, 2021 17:56

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Rome / Culture and Tourism / Mobility

Are Covid-free islands the way to go this summer?

Greece is doing it, Italy is still on the fence

Apr 15, 2021 12:03

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Digital transformation / Mobility

Milan to integrate shared mobility platforms

Part of the larger Open Streets Plan

Apr 13, 2021 14:56

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

Milanese library extends outwards

This will be done with the creation of a multi-purpose pavilion and a square

Apr 07, 2021 12:58

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Development / Growing City

Milan plans to adopt the 15-minute city model

Here the focus will be on coworking spaces

Mar 15, 2021 17:46

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Green City / Public Spaces

Tiny street gets a Milanese-style facelift

Via Celio went from anonymity to an inspirational model for urban design

Mar 04, 2021 16:46

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Italy / Milan / Green City / Politics and Reforms

The Government of Lombardy unveils an incentive scheme for decarbonization of vehicle stock

The financial aid will also be retroactively applied to cars registered after 1 January 2020

Feb 13, 2021 17:26

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov