Spanish walls, 16th century rampart in Milan, Italy.
The Spanish Walls are a series of 16th-century defensive structures that once circled Milan, built from brick and stone with fortified towers. Only fragments remain today, most visible along Viale Vittorio Veneto near Porta Venezia.
Governor Ferrante Gonzaga ordered the construction of these fortifications between 1548 and 1562 while Milan was under Spanish rule. The walls shaped urban development for centuries until they gradually gave way to public spaces in the 1700s.
When the walls lost their military purpose, they became places where people strolled and socialized in the shade of tall trees. This transformation from fortress to public walkway shaped how residents used this part of the city.
The remaining sections are best explored on foot, especially along Viale Vittorio Veneto where the structures are most visible. The area is well-connected by public transport and easy to reach from central Milan.
Few visitors realize that from the wall you could see both Milan Cathedral and the distant Alps on clear days. These sightlines connected the city to its broader landscape in a way that made the walk memorable.
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