ITA - ITALY
MILANO, PARCO SEMPIONE
Not to be confused with Milano - Milano, Fiera Campionaria - Milano, Indoor Kart Center - Milano, Pista Rossa - Milano, Triennale (kart)
Description  
Location Milano
MI - Milano - Lombardia
Location Parco (park) Sempione, between Castello Sforzesco (Sforza’s Castle), Arena and Arco della Pace (Peace Arch). Arena is the first stadium in Milan and it was built in 1806.
Latitude - Longitude + 45°28'19"     + 9°10'44"
45.471944     9.178889
UTM Coordinates X = 513982.964  -  Y = 5035395.134  -  Zone 32T
Aerial photo / Map (*) Aerial photo / Map (*) OpenStreetMap  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Google Maps  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Bing Maps  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Flash Earth  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Wikimapia
Altitude AMSL 125 m - 410 ft
Inauguration 1936
Closing September 29th 1946
Designer  
Sources and links (Translation) (**)
(1) English www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htmThe Golden Era of Grand Prix Racing
(2) Italian www.tazionuvolari.it/corse6it.htmTazio Nuvolari’s official website
(3) Italian www.tazionuvolari.it/corse7it.htmTazio Nuvolari’s official website
(4) English www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1937/1937r.html#milano
(5) Italian Rombo 40/1986 (page 74)Revival of 1936 GP (with map)
(6) Italian Ruoteclassiche 9/2001 [Publishing date: September 2001]

(*) NOTE: a complete and detailed view of the circuit can be found (if available) on Street View by Google Maps and/or Bird's Eye and 3D views by Bing Maps for Enterprise (former Microsoft Virtual Earth): both can be reached using their own link in Aerial photo / Map cell.

(**) For on-line not-English speaking sources, click on each small flag and you open the corresponding Google Translator page with automatic translation.

Parco Sempione
Description I don’t know if the circuit was different in 1936 and 1937 and which layout is shown on my map
Years 1936
Direction Anticlockwise   Anticlockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit  
Motorbike circuit  
Type Street course
Inauguration 1936
Closing 1936
Last update of this page March 25th 2008
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points Viale Gerolamo Gadio - Viale Legione Lombarda - Viale Comizi de Lione - Viale Elvezia - Viale George Byron - Viale Goethe - Viale Malta
length 2570  m 8432  ft 1.597  mi   (1)
length 2570  m 8432  ft 1.597  mi   (4)
length 2600  m 8530  ft 1.616  mi   (2)

Parco Sempione
Description I don’t know if the circuit was different in 1936 and 1937 and which layout is shown on my map
Years 1937
Direction Anticlockwise   Anticlockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit  
Motorbike circuit  
Type Street course
Inauguration 1937
Closing 1937
Last update of this page March 25th 2008
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points Viale Gerolamo Gadio - Viale Legione Lombarda - Viale Comizi de Lione - Viale Elvezia - Viale George Byron - Viale Goethe - Viale Malta
length 2570  m 8432  ft 1.597  mi   (1)
length 2400  m 7874  ft 1.491  mi   (2)
length 2570  m 8432  ft 1.597  mi   (4)

Parco Sempione
Description  
Years 1946
Direction Anticlockwise   Anticlockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Street course
Inauguration September 29th 1946
Closing September 29th 1946
Last update of this page May 23rd 2003
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points Viale Gerolamo Gadio - Viale George Byron - Via Bertani - Viale Malta - Via Michele Cervantes - Viale Shakespeare - Viale Emilio Alemagna
length 2800  m 9186  ft 1.74  mi   (3)

Milano, Parco Sempione 1936?÷1937?

Milano, Parco Sempione 1936?÷1937?


Milano, Parco Sempione 1936?÷1937?

Milano, Parco Sempione 1936?÷1937?



PHOTOS

Photos 1-2 by a private collection, taken by a spectator.
Comments and other photos from user of Atlas F.1 - The Nostalgia Forum

Photos by collezione privata - September 29th 1946
Click on thumbnail to open original large photo

1234
2001200120012001
1° heat, start. From left to right (referred to the track, not to the picture): Arialdo Ruggeri (Maserati 4CL #6, in primo piano), Carlo Felice Trossi (Alfa Romeo 158 #12), Luigi Villoresi (Maserati 4CL #18) and Achille Varzi (Alfa Romeo 158 #2). This photo was taken quite in same moment as photo #3, but on the opposite side of the track.Leslie Brooke (ERA B #14)1° heat, start: Arialdo Ruggeri (Maserati 4CL #6), Carlo Felice Trossi (Alfa Romeo 158 #12), Achille Varzi (Alfa Romeo 158 #2). 2nd row: Tazio Nuvolari (Maserati 4CL # 8), Guido Barbieri (Maserati 4CL #16). This photo was taken quite in same moment as first photo, but on the opposite side of the track.Franco Cortese (Maserati 4CL #28), Consalvo Sanesi (Alfa Romeo 158 #32), e Louis Chiron (Maserati 4CL #40).
This photo was taken in front of Arena Civica, more or less in the same position as my phot No.8.

PHOTOS

2001


Photos taken on June 18th 2003 (1, 7-19, 24-25, 27) and July 15th 2003 (2-6, 20-23, 26, 28)

Photos by Guido de Carli - 2003
Click on thumbnail to open original large photo

1234
2001200120012001
First hairpin. Start line was on the straight left on the photos, under trees; the the track went on Viale Gadio, the straight in front of the photographer, towards cars in background. On right (out of photo) there were boxes.Castello Sforzesco (Sforza’s Castle) seen from just before hairpin. Grass in foreground should be occupied by boxesBoxes area. Castle is in foreground, hidden by trees; tracks is the white one on bottom right. This photo is taken near to park’s gate, after first hairpinViale Gadio straight comes out of Parco (park) Sempione

5678
2001200120012001
Viale Gadio straight seen from the corner, in opposite direction. In background: park’s gate.Second section of the corner: track go again in the park, goes under the trees and join Arena (the white building with a light blue door in background). Whose is bike in foreground? :-)
Sorry for low quality of this photo!
Long left bend near Arena stadiumThe same road shown in previous photo, but in contrary directions. While taking this photo, I saw this circuit used for a race: not by voiturette like in 1930s, but by children riding thier bicycles!

9101112
2001200120012001
Going again out of the park, near Arena main entranceIn front of Arena main entrance (not shown in the photo)As previous photo, but in contrary directionViale Elveia straighr, seen on contrary direction

13141516
2001200120012001
Viale Byron park entrance and Arena on background. I think that circuit entrance was a little nearer to Arena than nowViale Byron: now it is a long right bend, but as park entrance should be in a different position, I think that it used to be a straight. In background: ArenaArena Civica (from 2002 named after Gianni Brera, journalist)Viale Goethe from Arena.

17181920
2001200120012001
Viale Malta seen from junction with Viale Goethe. You can see that trees are quite far from the track, so I think that circuit laid also where now there are park lights and seats.Same part of Viale Malta, but in contrary directionViale Malta seen from park gate. Circuits went on outside park for some meters, in Peace Arch Circus, behind photographerPiazza Sempione. The track went out from viale Malta’s gate (you can see it between the tree and the first lamp on the left) and there was an hairpin on the piazza. I don’t know if this big steps (that begin exactly in front of this gate) were also in 1930s or if the hairpin was a little more in the center of the piazza.

21222324
2001200120012001
Arco della Pace (Peace Arch), Piazza Sempione. This is the "wrong" side, opposite to the park (the "right" one is fully packed because of restoring)Piazza Sempione. Exactly behind, in the center of photo, there is park’s gate used by the circuit, so hairpin should have been in this area.Piazza Sempione and - in background - Castello Sforzesco (Sforza’s Castle). This is only a panoramic photo, the circuit was not in it.Viale Malta taken more or less in the same position as photo 17, but in contrary direction

25262728
2001200120012001
Viale Malta just before start-finish line, but in contrary directionStart-finish straight. In background: Castello Sforzesco (Sforza’s Castle).Start-finish straight. Half track is used by work in progress (right in the photo). In background: Castello Sforzesco (Sforza’s Castle).First hairpin seen more or less from start-stop line. In background: Castello Sforzesco (Sforza’s Castle).

PHOTOS

2001


Photos taken on October 2nd 2003, but ones with red numbers (see 1936-1937 circuit page). The latters are reported in this table with number added by 100 (red 1 is shown here as 101)
Unfortunately they were taken at late afternoon and so they are not so clear

Photos by Guido de Carli - October 2nd 2003
Click on thumbnail to open original large photo

1234
2001200120012001
Viale Gadio: left corner. Track comes from the left (where there is no parking signal) and wen into the park trough the gate. Traffic light is the same shown on photo 4 and 5.Viale Eugenio Beauharnais. Park seen from gate shown on previous photoJunction between Viale Eugenio Beauharnais (behind and left) and Viale Ramiro Barbaro di San Giorgio (right), where the track went on. Hidden in background, ArenaJunction between Viale Ramiro Barbaro di San Giorgio and Viale Congresso Cispadano. In background, Arena

5678
2001200120012001
Arena Civica (from 2002 named after Gianni Brera, journalist)Arena Civica and Viale della Repubblica Cispadana. In Background (left): Viale George ByronArena CivicaArena Civica

9101112
2001200120012001
Junction between Viale Giorgio Byron (in front of camera) and Viale della Repubblica Cispadana (right). This photo was taken more or less where people are standing, in background of photo No.5. Section used, in contrary direction, also by 1936-1937 track.Viale George Byron gate. This track layout went on straight up to a junction hidden at the end of that road, while 1936-1937 circuit came from Viale Elvezia, on the right. More or less photo No. 13 was taken here.Viale George Byron. In background you can see a traffic light at junction with Via Agostino Bertani, where the track turned left. More or less photo No. 12 was taken here, but of course looking in a different directionViale George Byron, seen in contrary direction from junction with via Agostino Bertani

13141516
2001200120012001
Via Agostino Bertani. In background Arco della Pace (Peace Arch)Link from via Agostino Bertani to Piazza Sempione. Now there is no more road, there are steps, young trees and works in progress.As previous picture, but looking back towards via Agostino BertaniPiazza Sempione. Now it is used for happenings (?) and concerts and today it has been covered by this big tent, located on the old hairpin position.

17181920
2001200120012001
Hairpin between Viale Malta (Red on thumbnail) and Viale Miguel Cervantes (yellow)Viale Miguel CervantesHairpin between viale Miguel Cervantes (right, where the circuit came from) and Viale William Shakespeare (on the left and where this photo was taken from)Viale William Shakespeare gate. In background, Piazza Sempione and the big tent already shown on photo No. 16

21222324
2001200120012001
Viale William Shakespeare gate, taken from Piazza Sempione, in contrary directionPiazza Sempione. In background, hidden by trees, there is Viale Malta gate (photo No. 20)Piazza Sempione: Viale Emilio Alemagna gateViale Emilio Alemagna just after gate shown on previous photo.

25262728
2001200120012001
Viale Emilio Alemagna exit gateViale Moliére. In backgorund a traffic light is hidden where the circuit turned leftRoad link between Viale Moliére and Viale Emilio Alemagna has been canceled and now there is this monument.Triennale. It’s few metgers behind monument shown on previous photo. Circuit came in front of it and turnet right

29303132
2001200120012001
Viale Emilio Alemagna taken from Triennale.Viale Moliére (?) taken in contrary direction. At junction in bakground, circuit came from right side of ths picture, hidden by trees in foregroundAs previous photo, taken in the same direction of the circuit. At traffic light, circuit turned left to Viale GadioViale Gadio seen fron junction with Viale Moliére (? - see previous photo). Circuit went back in the park and to start/finish line under the blue gate.

101102103104
2001200120012001
Main straight (Viale Gladio), taken a little further than strat/finish line. On right (out of photo) there were boxes.Castello Sforzesco (Sforza’s Castle) seen from viale Malta. Grass in foreground should be occupied by boxesBoxes area. Castle is in foreground, hidden by trees; tracks is the white one on bottom right. This photo is taken near to park’s gateViale Gadio straight comes out of Parco (park) Sempione. 1946 circuit turned left at first traffic light.

105113114115
2001200120012001
Viale Gadio straight seen from the corner, in opposite direction. 1946 circuit did’t arrive here, but turned in the park (right in the photo) at traffic light. In background: park’s gate.Viale Byron park entrance and Arena on background. I think that 1936-1937 circuit entrance was a little nearer to Arena than now. This photo was taken in a direction contrary to 1946 circuit.Viale Byron, in contrary direction. In background: ArenaArena Civica

120121122 
200120012001 
Piazza Sempione, Viale Malta gate. I don’t know if this big steps (that begin exactly in front of this gate) were also in 1930s and 1940s.Arco della Pace (Peace Arch), Piazza Sempione. This is the "wrong" side, opposite to the park (the "right" one is fully packed because of restoring). 1946 circuit came from the leftPiazza Sempione. Its the same area shown in previous photo, wihout the big tent. Exactly behind, in the center of photo, there is via Malta gate used by the circuit, so hairpin should have been in this area. 


Updates
Date Track layout Years Description by Map by Thanks to Note
October 6th 2003 Parco Sempione 1946 Guido de Carli     New Photos (on this site)
October 6th 2003 Parco Sempione 1946 Guido de Carli Guido de Carli   New Description with map
September 29th 2003 Parco Sempione 1946 Guido de Carli     New Photos (on this site)
August 2nd 2003     Guido de Carli     Update Description
July 16th 2003     Guido de Carli     Update Photos (on this site)
June 21st 2003     Guido de Carli     New Photos (on this site)
June 21st 2003     Guido de Carli Guido de Carli   New Description with map
Not all eventual updates issued in last years are already visible in this list
 
Webmaster:
Guido de Carli
(Italiano - English - Español)