Milan neighbourhoods
NoLo
North of Loreto: from forgotten periphery to the neighbourhood of the moment.
- Market
- Fri see below ↓
- Transport
- M1 / M2 Loreto, M1 Rovereto, M1 Pasteur; tram 1, buses 56, 90/91
- District
- 3
What it's like
NoLo is the area north of piazzale Loreto, roughly between via Padova, viale Monza and the railway.
Until a few years ago it was known mostly for via Padova, one of the most multi-ethnic streets in Milan, with shops and restaurants from twenty different countries.
Around 2015 a group of residents launched the name NoLo, on the model of New York's neighbourhoods, and the area quickly became one of the youngest and liveliest in the city: cocktail bars, artisan bakeries, a covered market turned into an events space.
The change is fast and not painless, and the tension between old and new residents is part of the neighbourhood's character.
Its green heart is Parco Trotter, a former racecourse turned garden and open-air state school, one of the places local families love most.
Green space and the outdoors
Parks
Dog areas
- via Giacosa · 465 m²
- parco Trotter · 1011 m²
- largo San Valentino · 567 m²
- giardino Fausto Tinelli e Lorenzo Iannucci · 428 m²
- vie Zuretti - Tirano - Naviglio Martesana · 316 m²
- vie Rho - Conti Carlo · 1086 m²
Playgrounds
- vie Venini - Martiri Oscuri · 441 m²
- via Giacosa · 638 m²
- parco Trotter · 501 m²
- via Padova n. 25 · 167 m²
- via Sammartini · 61 m²
- giardino Fausto Tinelli e Lorenzo Iannucci · 504 m²
Where to eat and drink
NoLo eats well and often cheaply: Ghe Sem for Neapolitan pizza on via Venini, the Davide Longoni bakery on via Tiraboschi for sourdough, and dozens of ethnic spots along via Padova, from Egyptian rotisseries to Peruvian restaurants.
The via Marco Aurelio market is on Friday mornings; there is also a weekly farmers market and the viale Monza covered market, reopened as a hybrid of stalls and kitchens.
Getting there
NoLo revolves around piazzale Loreto, one of the most important hubs on the network: M1 and M2 cross here, and M1 continues with Rovereto and Pasteur inside the neighbourhood.
Via Padova is long and busy; the best way to explore NoLo is on foot through the side streets or by bike.
M1 / M2 Loreto, M1 Rovereto, M1 Pasteur; tram 1, buses 56, 90/91
Frequently asked questions
What does NoLo mean in Milan?
NoLo stands for North of Loreto, the area north of piazzale Loreto along via Padova and via Popoli. The name was coined by residents around 2015 and does not correspond to an official district.
Is NoLo a safe neighbourhood?
NoLo is a densely lived-in residential area, needing the same care as any urban zone at night. Via Padova had a poor reputation in the past, much reduced today; the side streets are quiet and full of bars.
Nearby neighbourhoods
Data: City of Milan — weekly open-air markets (DS291), CC-BY. Reviewed .