On December 18th, 2019, Pavilion 3 of the fairgrounds—the city’s first ever indoor sports arena—was sold at auction to the insurance group Generali, for a winning bid of €30.1 million
The first pavilion
Having acquired the area of land centred on Piazza d’Armi from the city, the newly established Milan Fair Board (July 1st, 1922) immediately started work on the fairgrounds with the construction of the Palazzo dello Sport in Piazza VI Febbraio.
Partita di allenamento della squadra di basket Fiera Milano Partita di allenamento della squadra di basket Fiera Milano (1962) by Non identificatoFondazione Fiera Milano
The pavilion was designed as a multi-purpose venue that could host exhibitor stands for fairs, but also large sporting events, in a city that did not yet have a facility for that purpose. The Palazzo dello Sport was, therefore, the very first indoor sports arena for the city of Milan.
Costruzione del palazzo dello sport alla Fiera di Milano (1922-1923) by Non identificatoFondazione Fiera Milano
Opening of the construction site in November 1922. The arena would be built in 180 days.
Entrata del palazzo dello sport alla Fiera Campionaria di Milano del 1927 (post 1927/04/12 - ante 1927/04/27) by Gatti, DarioFondazione Fiera Milano
It was designed by the architect Paolo Vietti Violi, renowned worldwide as a leading designer of sports facilities.
The Palazzo dello Sport hosted the Motor Show in alternate years with Turin until the Second World War.
Lavori di allestimento del Salone internazionale aeronautico del 1935 nel palazzo dello sport della Fiera di Milano (1935) by Stabilimento Fotografico CrimellaFondazione Fiera Milano
Born to astonish
Also known as Pavilion 3, it was designed by Paolo Vietti Violi, built in less than six months, and officially opened in April 1923 for the first Milan Fair to be held at the new fairgrounds.
Costruzione del palazzo dello sport alla Fiera di Milano (1923)Fondazione Fiera Milano
The pavilion was huge in size for its time, with a rectangular base of 104 x 81 metres. The central section had no structural elements and was surmounted by a dome measuring 55 x 89 metres (one of the biggest in all of Italy at the time). The stands seated up to 18,000 spectators.
Lavori di allestimento del Salone internazionale aeronautico del 1935 nel palazzo dello sport della Fiera di Milano (1935) by Stabilimento Fotografico CrimellaFondazione Fiera Milano
One of the most amazing elements of the building was without a doubt the elliptical design of the central section on the ground floor, covering a surface area of around 4,000 square metres and a height of 30 metres, and encircled by a regular sequence of concrete columns.The façade of the sports arena was embellished by Violi in the Beaux-Arts style with late Art Nouveau features.
Not just for fairs
The Palazzo dello Sport hosted a great variety of sporting competitions, from the legendary Six Days of Milan track cycling event to world-title boxing matches, and was the home venue for several of the basketball championship titles won by Olimpia Milan.
Salone dell'auto, avio, moto, ciclo e accessori nel palazzo dello sport alla Fiera Campionaria di Milano del 1953 (post 1953/04/12 - ante 1953/04/29) by Ancillotti & MartinottiFondazione Fiera Milano
Alongside its purpose as a sports venue, Pavilion 3 was also home to numerous motor shows, motorcycle expos, and boat shows. In the 1930s it was the venue of the International Air Show, while in more recent times it has played host to Milan fashion shows.
Ingresso del Palazzo dello Sport in occasione della Sei Giorni di ciclismo alla Fiera di Milano nel 1963 (31/01/1963 - 06/02/1963) by PublifotoFondazione Fiera Milano
The Six Days of Milan was a six-day track cycling race. The race was run every year from 1961 to 1984 in several different venues, including the Palazzo dello Sport in Piazza VI Febbraio.
Serata inaugurale della Sei Giorni di ciclismo alla Fiera di Milano nel 1961 (2/2/1961) by PublifotoFondazione Fiera Milano
Interno del Palazzo dello Sport in occasione della Sei Giorni di ciclismo alla Fiera di Milano nel 1963 (31/01/1963 - 06/02/1963) by PublifotoFondazione Fiera Milano
The Molteni team cyclist in the foreground is the several-time champion Nando Terruzzi.
Amichevole di basket Fiera Milano - Enal Legler Amichevole di basket Fiera Milano - Enal Legler (1955) by Non identificatoFondazione Fiera Milano
The Palazzo dello Sport was the home venue of the Olimpia Milan basketball team in the 1950s. Olimpia is the most titled club in Italian basketball
It was the theatre of the club’s nine Italian championship titles and three runner-up places between 1947 and 1961.
La Scala
One event in particular ties Milan to the sports arena in Piazza VI Febbraio. In 1946, the city’s opera house, La Scala, was unable to host its full season due to the heavy damage the theatre had suffered during the war. With the Palazzo dello Sport back on its feet the arena was provided as a venue for the full opera season.
Allestimento a teatro del palazzo dello sport alla Fiera Campionaria di Milano del 1946 (post 1946/09/12 - ante 1946/09/29) by Non identificatoFondazione Fiera Milano
It was the first pavilion to be rebuilt for the fairgrounds: after the formal approval of Arturo Toscanini, who apparently tested the acoustics first, on July 20th, 1946 the sports arena was transformed into a world-class concert hall seating six thousand people for the premiere of Arrigo Boito’s Mefistofele, conducted by Franco Ghione.
Allestimento a teatro del palazzo dello sport della Fiera di Milano per l'inaugurazione dell'anno scaligero (1946) by Non identificatoFondazione Fiera Milano
Performances at the arena continued through to September with another fifty shows staged (the operas Rigoletto, Aida, Tosca, Lohengrin, Carmen, and Cavalleria rusticana and ballets).
2004 transfer and the City Life redevelopment project
The Pavilion is heritage listed and so subject to building restrictions.
Veduta parziale del Salone internazionale aeronautico del 1935 nel palazzo dello sport della Fiera di Milano (post 1935/10/12 - ante 1935/10/28) by Non identificatoFondazione Fiera Milano
In 2004, the Fondazione Fiera Milano transferred ownership of the pavilion to Milan City Council as part of redevelopment plans for the old fairground district.
Veduta esterna del palazzo dello sport alla Fiera di Milano (1928) by Argo Agenzia FotograficaFondazione Fiera Milano
Work on the restoration of the façade by City Life was completed in 2017. Now, with its acquisition by Generali, the pavilion will start a new chapter in its long life.
This virtual path has been created in collaboration with Promemoria Group.
www.promemoriagroup.com
-
Fondazione Fiera Milano Historical Archive:
archiviostorico.fondazionefiera.it
