Timeline of Milan

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Milan, Italy.

BC era

 * 400 BCE - Founded by the Celts under the name Medhelanon.
 * 222 BCE - Medhelanon was conquered by the ancient Romans, who Latinized the name of the city into Mediolanum.
 * 49 BCE - Mediolanum becomes municipium.

3rd–8th centuries

 * 3rd C. CE - Roman Catholic diocese of Milan established.
 * 286 CE - Western Roman Empire capital moves from Rome to Mediolanum.
 * 313 - Edict of Milan.
 * 370 - Basilica of San Lorenzo consecrated.
 * 379 - Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio consecrated.
 * 382 - San Nazaro in Brolo construction begins.
 * 402 - City besieged by Visigoths.
 * 452 - City besieged by Huns.
 * 539 - City sacked by Ostrogoths.
 * 569 - Lombards conquer city.
 * 774 - Milan surrenders to the Franks.
 * 833 - San Vincenzo in Prato built.
 * 899 - Hunnish invasion

11th century

 * 1045 - Milan adopts the commune form of local city-state government.

12th–14th centuries

 * 1135 - Chiaravalle Abbey founded.
 * 1157 - Circular moat, (Naviglio), constructed round the town.
 * 1158 - Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa besieges and sacks the city, but it soon rebels.
 * 1162 - Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa seizes and destroys the city.
 * 1183 - After the Peace of Constance Milan returns to the commune form of government.
 * 13th C. - Palazzo Borromeo (Milan) established.
 * 1233 - Palazzo della Ragione built.
 * 1237 - After the Battle of Cortenuova Pagano della Torre rallied and saved Milan.
 * 1259 - Milan is ruled as a Signoria with the Della Torre family ruling as Signores.
 * 1277
 * The Battle of Desio is fought between the Della Torre and Visconti families for the control of Milan.
 * The Visconti of Milan emerges as the victors at Desio and begin their rule of Milan as the Signores.
 * 1302 - Guido della Torre deposes Matteo I Visconti as the Signore.
 * 1311 - Henry VII restores Matteo I Visconti as the Signore.
 * 1321 - Loggia degli Osii built, with two open porticos in black and white marble.
 * 1330
 * Piazza del Duomo, Milan work begins.
 * San Gottardo, Milan work begins.
 * 1336 - Public clock installed.
 * 1360 - Castello Sforzesco construction begun.
 * 1381 - Chiesa di Santa Maria alla Scala built.
 * 1386 - Milan Cathedral begins construction.
 * 1395 - Milan is formally elevated to a Duchy when Wenceslaus IV titles Gian Galeazzo Visconti the Duke of Milan.

15th–16th centuries

 * 1412 - Gian Maria Visconti assassinated in front of the San Gottardo, Milan.
 * 1447
 * The death of Filippo Maria Visconti (1392–1447) ends more than two centuries of Visconti rule in Milan.
 * The Golden Ambrosian Republic begins.
 * 1450 - The House of Sforza takes power.
 * 1456 - Ospedale Maggiore begins construction.
 * 1463 - Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan begun.
 * 1471 - Printing press in operation.
 * 1482 - Santa Maria delle Grazie built.
 * 1493 - Santa Maria presso San Celso begins construction.
 * 1496 - Chiesa di Santa Maria della Passione built.
 * 1497 - Apicius de re Coquinaria cookbook published.
 * 1498 - Leonardo paints The Last Supper in the Santa Maria delle Grazie church.
 * 1508 - Santa Maria alla Fontana built.
 * 1515 - Battle of Marignano and Francis I of France takes Milan.
 * 1522 - Francesco II Sforza in power.
 * 1535 - City becomes part of Habsburg Spain.
 * 1562 - Palazzo dei Giureconsulti begins construction.
 * 1565 - Casa degli Omenoni built (approximate date).
 * 1577 - Milan Cathedral consecrated by Charles Borromeo, cardinal saint.
 * 1579 - San Fedele built.
 * 1580 - Plague.

17th century

 * 1608 - Palazzo del Senato construction begins.
 * 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens.
 * 1618 - Pinacoteca Ambrosiana opens.
 * 1630 - Plague begins.
 * 1631 - Palazzo Annoni construction begins.
 * 1640 - The gazette named Milano was published for the first time.
 * 1644 - Palazzo delle Scuole Palatine rebuilt.

18th century

 * 1717 - Teatro Regio Ducale built.
 * 1761 - Palazzo Litta built.
 * 1762 - Madonnina (statue) erected.
 * 1772 - Royal Palace of Milan renovated.
 * 1774 - Orto Botanico di Brera (garden) established.
 * 1776 - Brera Academy founded.
 * 1778
 * La Scala inaugurated.
 * Royal Palace of Milan expanded.
 * 1779 - Teatro Lirico built.
 * 1784 - Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli established.
 * 1785 - The newspaper Il Corriere di Gabinetto - Gazzetta di Milano was published for the first time.
 * 1786
 * Biblioteca di Brera (library) opens.
 * Archivio di Stato di Milano (state archives) established.
 * 1793 - Palazzo Serbelloni built.
 * 1796 - Milan declared capital of Cisalpine Republic.
 * 1797 - 1st Grenadier Battalion and 2nd Rifle Battalion of the Polish Legions founded in Milan.

19th century

 * 1802 - Milan becomes capital of the Napoleonic Italian Republic.
 * 1805 - Coronation of Napoleon as King of Italy.
 * 1807
 * Milan Conservatory established.
 * Arena Civica opened.
 * 1808
 * Milan Stock Exchange established.
 * Casa Ricordi music publisher in business.
 * 1817 - Caffè Cova in business on Via Monte Napoleone.
 * 1820 - Revolutionary Carbonari arrested.
 * 1824 - Pasticceria Marchesi in business.
 * 1838 - Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano founded.
 * 1840 - Milan-Monza railway begins operating.
 * 1842 - Premiere of Verdi's opera Nabucco.
 * 1848 - Five Days uprising against Austrian Empire.
 * 1860
 * Campari in business.
 * Antonio Beretta becomes mayor.
 * 1861
 * Milan becomes part of Kingdom of Italy.
 * City hall opens in Palazzo Marino.
 * 1863 - Istituto Tecnico Superiore founded.
 * 1864 - opens at.
 * 1866 - Cimitero Monumentale di Milano opened.
 * 1870 - Hoepli publisher in business.
 * 1871 - Population: 261,976.
 * 1872
 * Pirelli company founded.
 * Ca' de Sass built.
 * Teatro Dal Verme opens.
 * 1873 - Società Storica Lombarda (history society) founded.
 * 1876
 * Corriere della Sera newspaper begins publication.
 * Trams begin operating.
 * 1877 - Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II built.
 * 1879
 * Milano Affori railway station and Milano Bovisa-Politecnico railway station open.
 * "Società d'Esplorazione Commerciale in Africa" founded.
 * 1881 - Population: 321,839.
 * 1883 - Salumi in business.
 * 1886
 * Breda manufactory in business.
 * German School of Milan founded.
 * Piazza della Scala established.
 * 1888
 * Parco Sempione established.
 * Via Dante constructed.
 * 1891 - Camera del Lavoro (labor centre) and (hiking club) founded.
 * 1894 - Touring Club Italiano established.
 * 1896
 * Casa di Riposo per Musicisti founded.
 * Italo Pacchioni creates "first Italian film" Arrivo del treno alla Stazione di Milano.
 * 1897 - Population: 470,558.
 * 1898 - Bava-Beccaris massacre.
 * 1899
 * Milan Football and Cricket Club founded.
 * Parini statue erected in Piazza Cordusio.

1900s–1940s

 * 1902 - Bocconi University founded.
 * 1903 - Palazzo Castiglioni built.
 * 1906
 * Confederazione Generale del Lavoro (labor union) headquartered in Milan.
 * Milan International (1906) world's fair held
 * Simplon Tunnel opens.
 * Casa Campanini built.
 * Population: 560,613.
 * 1907 - (shoe shop) in business.
 * 1908 - Internazionale Milano football club founded.
 * 1909 - Malpensa Airport established.
 * 1911 - in business.
 * 1912 - Messina tram depot built.
 * 1915
 * Castello Cova built.
 * American Chamber of Commerce established.
 * 1917
 * Galleria Pesaro opens.
 * La Rinascente (shop) in business.
 * 1919
 * March: Fascio di Combattimento political group founded.
 * August: Honorary Consulate of Poland opened, later elevated to Consulate-General (see Italy–Poland relations).
 * 1921
 * Milan Sample Fair begins.
 * Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore established.
 * 1922 - Novecento Italiano art movement active.
 * 1924 - University of Milan founded.
 * 1926 - Stadio San Siro opens.
 * 1927 - A. Rizzoli & Co. founded.
 * 1930 - Planetario di Milano inaugurated.
 * 1931 - Milano Centrale railway station opens.
 * 1932 - Palazzo Mezzanotte (stock exchange) built.
 * 1933
 * Trolleybuses begin operating.
 * Torre Branca built in Parco Sempione.
 * 1934 - Institute for International Political Studies founded.
 * 1935 - Villa Necchi Campiglio (residence) built.
 * 1937 - Linate Airport opens.
 * 1939
 * A.C. Milan football club active.
 * Anteo Spazio Cinema opens.
 * 1942 - opens.
 * 1945 - 29 April: Corpse of executed Mussolini brought to Piazzale Loreto.
 * 1947 - Piccolo Teatro founded.

1950s–1990s

 * 1954 - Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea inaugurated.
 * 1955
 * FrancoAngeli publisher in business.
 * Centro di Documentazione Ebraica Contemporanea founded.
 * 1956 - Palazzo dell'Arengario built.
 * 1958 - Milan Fashion Week begins.
 * 1960 - Cinema Ambasciatori opens.
 * 1961 - Milan Furniture Fair begins.
 * 1962 - Amica fashion magazine in publication.
 * 1964 - Milan Metro begins operating.
 * 1965 - Milan Cathedral final details completed.
 * 1968 - IULM University of Milan founded.
 * 1969 - Piazza Fontana bombing.
 * 1974 - theatre troupe founded.
 * 1975 - Armani fashion house founded.
 * 1979 - MIP- Politecnico di Milano School of Management formed.
 * 1980
 * opens.
 * Parco Alessandrini inaugurated.
 * 1982 - Domus Academy established.
 * 1985 - Dolce & Gabbana fashion house founded.
 * 1986 - Class Editori founded.
 * 1987
 * MF Milano Finanza newspaper begins publication.
 * Massimo De Carlo art gallery opens.
 * 1990
 * Milan Metro Line 3 begins operating.
 * Parco Agricolo Sud Milano established.
 * 1991
 * July: City hosts the final round of the 1991 FIVB Volleyball World League.
 * Viafarini (art entity) established.
 * 10 Corso Como in business.
 * 1994 - July: City hosts the final round of the 1994 FIVB Volleyball World League.
 * 1995 - Documentation Center for Visual Arts founded.
 * 1996 - Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and Trussardi Foundation established.
 * 1997 - Milan Passante railway begins operating.
 * 1998
 * June: University of Milan Bicocca established.
 * July: City hosts the final round of the 1998 FIVB Volleyball World League.
 * 1999 - Malpensa Express begins operating.

21st century

 * 2001
 * 23 May: 2001 UEFA Champions League Final held in Milan.
 * 8 October: Linate Airport disaster.
 * City website online (approximate date).
 * O’artoteca (art organization) founded.
 * 2002
 * Orto Botanico di Cascina Rosa established.
 * Teatro degli Arcimboldi opens.
 * 2004
 * architects active.
 * Bulgari Hotel in business.
 * 2006
 * Lettera27 headquartered in Milan.
 * Letizia Moratti becomes mayor.
 * 2008
 * BikeMi launched.
 * Ecopass congestion charge begins.
 * 2009
 * Peep Hole and Cardi Black Box art gallery active.
 * Homeless World Cup football contest held.
 * 2010 - Population: 1,315,803.
 * 2011 - Giuliano Pisapia becomes mayor.
 * 2012
 * Portello Park inaugurated.
 * Milan Area C congestion charge begins, replacing Ecopass.
 * Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori high-speed train service begins operating, connecting Milan to Naples via Rome.
 * 2013 - Population: 1,262,101 municipality; 3,075,083 province.
 * 2015 - 1 May: Expo 2015 world fair opens.
 * 2016 - June: Milan municipal election, 2016 held.

Published in the 16th-19th century

 * in English


 * in other languages
 * ; 2nd edn (1619) with additions by Girolamo Borsieri, Milan: Bidelli.
 * ; 2nd edn (1619) with additions by Girolamo Borsieri, Milan: Bidelli.

Published in the 20th century

 * in English
 * + 1870 ed.
 * + 1870 ed.
 * + 1870 ed.
 * + 1870 ed.
 * + 1870 ed.
 * + 1870 ed.


 * in Italian
 * 1953-1966 (17 volumes)
 * Luigi Ganapini. Una città in guerra (Milano, 1939-1951) (Milan: Angeli, 1988)
 * Achille Rastelli. Bombe sulla città. Gli attacchi aerei alleati: le vittime civili a Milano (Milan: Mursia, 2000)
 * Luigi Ganapini. Una città in guerra (Milano, 1939-1951) (Milan: Angeli, 1988)
 * Achille Rastelli. Bombe sulla città. Gli attacchi aerei alleati: le vittime civili a Milano (Milan: Mursia, 2000)

Published in the 21st century

 * in English


 * in Italian
 * Francesco Ogliari. Fiamme su Milano: I bombardamenti aerei 1940-1945 (Pavia: Selecta, 2005)