APCOM

The restyling of Milano's Brera neighbourhood will begin with the 'Pinacoteca', with the replacement of the stone (phorphyry) flooring and of the benches in front of the famous art gallery. It will also focus on cycling and open spaces, with a new cycle track lined with trees and flowerbeds that will link up the city centre with the Parco Nord, in the northern suburbs. The city council's project has already been approved by the area's shopkeepers, so if everything goes according to plan, works will start by the end of this year.

"We have examined the pedestrianization of Brera street and the reconstruction of its square with the help of both shopkeepers and residents," confirmed Maurizio Cadeo, the town councillor for street furniture. "This neighbourhood needs some cleaning," pointed out Giuseppe Gissi, spokesman for the area's tradesmen. "It is visited by thousand of people every day and houses one of the most beautiful art galleries in Italy, so we must make the most of its beauty."

Brera's redevelopment plan is part of the city's 'green' programme: 6.5 square-kilometres of new parks and 72 kilometre of cycle tracks are due to be ready for the universal exhibition in 2015. The works have been entrusted to landscape architect Andreas Kipar: "The revolution starts from the centre, from culture, and goes towards nature, in the outskirts," he said. The aim is "to develop some wonderful places, which unfortunately have been almost forgotten."