Built on the edges of Parco Sempione in 1933, the fascist-style Palazzo dell’ Arte was designed by Giovanni Muzio to host the Triennial Exposition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts and Modern Architecture.

The Collezione Permanente celebrates Italian industrial design from 1945 to the present day, with over 1,000 pieces from the likes of Achille Castiglione, Joe Colombo and Gìo Ponti (Ponti fans should take the lift up his 108m high white-painted steel watchtower Torre Branca, built in 1933 for the Triennale for superb 360° views of Milan, just next door).

Back in the Triennale is an excellent café (Coffee Design, see Snack) and art bookshop that specializes in rare publications on design and architecture