Local: Derin CantürkI made my move to Porta Venezia back in 2013 when I came over from Istanbul for my architecture degree. After a brief hiatus in 2016, I found myself drawn back to this neighborhood from another corner of the city in 2017. Porta Venezia, translating to "Venice Gate" in Italian, takes its name from a historic gate at the heart of the neighborhood. For me, the real pulse of Porta Venezia beats around the crossroads of Via Melzo and Via Malpighi, where many of my favorite spots cluster.Buildings from the early 1900s like Casa Galimberti, Casa Guazzoni, Casa Cambiaghi, and Casa Balzarini, all flaunting the Liberty or Italian Art Nouveau style, never fail to captivate me. The grand entrance halls of Milan's apartment blocks, hidden behind majestic doors, remain among the architectural elements that catch my eye in daily life, continuously offering surprises.As for the neighborhood vibe... It's a vibrant mix, hosting diverse communities. The busier, commercial northern part is home to African communities, predominantly Eritreans, and LGBTQIA+ communities, while the quieter, residential south is where you'll find Italians and expats like myself. Although these groups lead fairly separate lives, they come together in the evenings, especially around Via Lecco, connecting through shared spaces and bars for some fun. Their most common ground seems to be the commercial and social interactions fostered by local businesses and shops.The impact of local venues and markets on the neighborhood's economy, culture, social fabric, and sense of community is significant. Several days a week, local markets spring up on different streets, transforming them into public platforms where especially the elderly can socialize and buy fresh produce, with the streets closed to traffic on market days. Like anywhere in Italy, catching up with the barista over a coffee at the bar counter in the mornings and after lunch is a staple routine. The pre-dinner aperitivo hour is also an integral part of life in the city and the neighborhood.Green spaces and parks play a crucial role in the daily lives of residents with pets and children. The Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli, also known as the Porta Venezia Gardens, is Milan's first and second-largest city park, serving as a vital green escape for me and others living here.It's not just a local observation, but I'd say Milan's venues traditionally had a weak connection to the street. However, in recent years, especially with the pandemic's impact and subsequent new city regulations, we've seen many venues extending outwards. This shift has undoubtedly strengthened their connection with the external.For the curious: Take a stroll through Milan's entryways with Karl Kolbitz's "<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.taschen.com/en/books/architecture-design/05321/entryways-of-milan-ingressi-di-milano" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); text-decoration: none; background-color: transparent; outline: none; cursor: pointer; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: auto; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">Entryways of Milan</a>", published by Taschen.

Soli

We're tuning into the beat of the Milan we know and the Milan we rediscover with every visit, all from the perspective of a local.

Green, open, diverse: Notes from Porta Venezia

<h2 dir="ltr" fr-original-style="" style="margin: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); font-weight: 500; padding: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">Tanışalım&nbsp;</h2>Yakın çevremdekiler bana “<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.instagram.com/derincantu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); text-decoration: none; background-color: transparent; outline: none; cursor: pointer; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: auto; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">Dero</a>” der.Şu anda İtalya merkezli bir mobilya markasının Milano’daki showroom’unda mimari danışman olarak çalışıyorum. Eğer bunu yapmasaydım gözlük tasarımı yapmak isterdim. &nbsp;Arkadaşlarıma göre uzman olduğum konu ufak dokunuşlarla çevremi güzelleştirmek. Bana sorarsan en önemli yeteneğim gözlemci, araştırmacı ve analitik yaklaşıma sahip olmak.&nbsp;Biriyle yeni tanıştığımda kendimle ilgili anlatmak istediğim ilk konu genelde seyahatlerimde ve günlük hayatta yaşadığım deneyimlerle ilgili oluyor. Deneyim odaklı konulardan sohbet etmenin iki tarafı da beslediğini düşünüyorum. &nbsp;Milano’da Porta Venezia’da yaşıyorum. Kalbimde Lizbon ve İstanbul’un karışımından ortaya çıkabilecek bir şehirdenim. Acaba neresi? Mahalle kavramı bana göre, kişinin yaşadığı yerin 10-15 dakika gibi kısa yürüyüş mesafesiyle kendi konforunu kaybetmeden ve çevresine yabancılaşmadan kaliteli zaman geçirebildiği alan anlamına geliyor.&nbsp;Bir mahallede tarihî bir doku içinde samimi mekanlar ve insanlar bulursam oraya ait hissediyorum. &nbsp;Kendimi seyahat ederken meraklı ve bilinçli bir turist, Milano ve İstanbul’da yerli, Avrupa ülkeleri ve Türkiye dışında her yerde yabancı hissediyorum. &nbsp;

"Dero". Mimari danışman. Porta Venezialı ama kalbinde Lizbon ve İstanbul var. 

Derin Cantürk

• Milan Belediye Meclisi, şehrin popüler noktalarından Porta Venezia’da semt sakinlerinin gürültüden şikayetçi olması nedeniyle gece hayatına kısıtlama getirdi.&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="padding-inline-start: 20px;" style="padding-inline-start: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; list-style-position: inside; box-sizing: border-box;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Kurallar: Buna göre, hafta içleri 00.00-06.00 ve hafta sonları 01.30-06.00 saatleri arasında hiçbir dükkan, tezgah, bar ya da otomat bölgede hizmet veremeyecek.</li></ul>

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