The park's design was inspired by the 'Time Garden' concept, where topography symbolizes geological and historical eras.
The central mound is known as the 'DNA spiral' due to its double-helix path configuration.
The park serves as a flood mitigation zone, incorporating sustainable drainage systems for the surrounding neighborhood.
The site replaces the former Alfa Romeo production facilities that operated here until the mid-1980s.
Botanical choices include a mix of native trees and shrubs designed to improve local air quality in a highly urbanized zone.
Parco Industria Alfa Romeo, also known as Parco del Portello, is a modern urban park constructed on the site of the former Alfa Romeo manufacturing plant in Milan. The park features a distinct hilly landscape designed by architects Charles Jencks and Andreas Kipar, utilizing artificial mounds to represent the passage of time and historical industrial transformation. It is divided into three thematic sections: Preistoria (Prehistory), Storia (History), and Futuro (Future). The layout includes a spiral path leading to the top of the 'Monte Stella' adjacent zone, offering elevated views of the CityLife district. Pedestrian walkways intersect with water features and varied botanical species selected to thrive in the urban environment. It functions as a green bridge connecting the residential Portello area with the newer commercial developments. The park integrates remnants of industrial memory with contemporary environmental design principles. It currently remains fully open to the public as an active recreational space.
The summit of the spiral hill, which provides a panoramic frame of the park with the modern towers of CityLife in the background.
Bring comfortable walking shoes to navigate the steep, winding incline of the central hill.
Visit during sunset to capture the silhouette of the Milanese skyscrapers against the park's landscaped mounds.
Look for the informational plaques scattered along the paths that explain the site's transition from factory to green space.
Avoid visiting during extreme midday heat in summer, as the park has limited canopy shade along the spiral path.
