The arch's orientation was originally intended to face toward Paris, but it was rotated during construction to face the city of Milan.
The bronze horses on the Sestiga were originally installed facing toward France, but were turned around to face toward Milan after the fall of Napoleon.
The arch features a series of high reliefs created by multiple artists, including Pompeo Marchesi and Luigi Canonica, depicting historical peace treaties.
The monument served as a ceremonial entrance for the city during the 19th century.
Despite its initial Napoleonic military theme, the final iconography emphasizes the return of peace through the congresses held in Europe.
The Arco della Pace is a grand neoclassical triumphal arch located at the entrance to Sempione Park in Milan. Commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1807, the monument was intended to celebrate his victories, but construction was halted upon his downfall. It was finally completed in 1838 under the Austrian Emperor Ferdinand I, who redirected its purpose to commemorate the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the subsequent peace in Europe. The structure is built primarily from Crevola marble and stands approximately 25 meters tall. It is crowned by a bronze 'Sestiga' (a chariot drawn by six horses) sculpted by Abbondio Sangiorgio, flanked by four 'Victories' on horseback. The reliefs and sculptures decorating the facade feature allegorical representations of the Po, Ticino, Adige, and Tagliamento rivers. The arch originally marked the end of the Simplon Road, which connected Milan to Paris via the Alps. Today, it acts as a landmark framing the axis between the city center and the Parco Sempione green space.
From the center of the park pathway looking toward the arch, capturing the monument framed by the greenery of the Sempione grounds.
Combine your visit with a walk through the adjacent Parco Sempione.
The surrounding Piazza Sempione is a popular local hub for evening aperitivos.
Visit at dusk to see the monument illuminated against the park background.
Avoid walking through the heavy traffic that circles the plaza; use designated pedestrian crossings to reach the island where the arch stands.
