Porta Nuova

We spent our last Sunday in Milano exploring the Porta Nuova district – an astonishing urban renewal project that turned industrial wastelands into upscale architectural marvels and large parks, including the Library of Trees.

A Sunday market was filled with mostly locals and the vendors offered a variety of beautiful crafts, fresh foods, and patio plants. Joe especially enjoyed his vegan (!) green smoothie for lunch.

We were impressed by the modern architecture and green construction efforts. Two residential towers are built as vertical forests – amazing to see! Other buildings and the green spaces that connect them were equally interesting and were being well-utilized by locals and visitors. It was a real boost to our nervous systems to re-connect with plants and trees after days of urban living with its cacophonous soundscape of motorized vehicles and concrete dreariness.

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

(From: Trees by Joyce Kilmer)