The basin where the two Navigli meet, and for centuries the port of a city with no river — the marble for the Duomo came in through here. It silted up, became a car park, and was dug out and reopened as a dock in 2015.
It is now the best piece of new public space in Milan, and it is the pivot between the two canals.
What it costs
⭐ Free. The quays, the walkways and the market hall alongside are public.
When to go
Early evening, walking from here into the Navigli as the aperitivo hour starts. The covered market on the Darsena is a morning place.
Getting there
Porta Genova on M2, or ten minutes’ walk down from the Colonne di San Lorenzo.
If you only have an hour
Round the basin, into the market, then west along the Naviglio Grande. Half an hour, and it sets up the evening.
What people get wrong
⚠️ It is not old. The dock is medieval and everything you are standing on is from 2015. Knowing that makes it better rather than worse — it is what a city does with a canal basin when it decides to want one again.
Nearby
Admissions, closing days and booking arrangements as published and checked on 7 September 2026. These change — the Last Supper’s release schedule has changed more than once — so confirm anything you are relying on before you travel. More sights, and how they fit together, in Landmarks & Sights.