Basilicas Park, Urban park between two basilicas in Milan, Italy.
Basilicas Park is an urban park in the historic center of Milan that runs between the Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio. It is made up of open lawns, tree-lined paths, and garden sections that form a green corridor through this part of the city.
The area was cleared in 1934, removing polluted marshes fed by tanneries at Piazza della Vetra and decayed buildings around San Lorenzo. After World War II the green space was laid out by architects Pier Fausto Bagatti Valsecchi and Antonio Grandi, enrolled in 1956, as an archaeological promenade linking the two basilicas, the Colonne di San Lorenzo and the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre. The park was fenced and renamed after Pope John Paul II for the Great Jubilee of 2000.
The park sits between two of the oldest churches in Milan, forming a natural passage between them. Along the way, visitors pass remnants of Roman columns and can see how locals use the lawn as a meeting spot.
The park has several entrances along Via Molino delle Armi and is open every day. The path between the two churches is easy to walk and offers a useful shortcut through this part of the city center.
The park's official name is Parco Papa Giovanni Paolo II, but the historic name Parco delle Basiliche remains in common use. The redesign by architects Pier Fausto Bagatti Valsecchi and Antonio Grandi was enrolled in 1956, yet the park was only laid out after World War II. The 2000 Jubilee renovation added fencing and security cameras.
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