Talking about Milan’s Mare Culturale Urbano it’s hard not to tick all the boxes: in fact, this old farmstead is a social space, a coworking area, a music venue and exhibition site – and counting. When it comes to culture, education and innovation, Mare is one of the most vibrant spots in Milan.

It may be true that Milan is far from the seaside (mare is the Italian word for sea) but Mare Culturale Urbano truly stands for a change in perspective, for good. As I said, this place was once a farmstead on the suburbs of the city: on its second life it welcomes everyone who wants to share their passion for something, whether it is to rehearse for their band, taking a yoga course or whatever – even with Covid-19.

On top of being a much-loved music and artistic venue, Mare is a safe space for the elderly (how nice it is to see middle-aged women knit!) and kids too. There’s always something going on in the main yard, for example exhibitions or the much-loved summer open-air cinema nights. On top of that, Mare has a pizza restaurant that is run by Cultural association LUDWIG, which also takes care of the cultural activities and events.

I love Mare Culturale Urbano because it’s more than a neighborhood spot: rather, it is an oasis in the middle of modern condos. Here’s to a gathering place where people can really get together and nurture their best selves!