A cultural hub set in a former factory, La Fabbrica del Vapore is a lively centre for art, exhibitions and events in Milan. Its great industrial halls now host shows, workshops and performances rather than machines. The name means the steam factory, recalling the building's past as a works that built and repaired the city's trams. It dates from the early years of the 20th century. When the works closed, the city took over the sprawling site and gave it a new life as a place for culture. The change kept the old buildings but changed their purpose. The complex covers a large area, with several halls and spaces given over to creative work and to groups of artists. There is room for many uses at once. The grandest space, once the main workshop, is a vast hall sometimes called the cathedral, used for large exhibitions and installations. Its great height suits bold displays. Through the year the centre stages a full programme of art shows, some free and some ticketed, drawing visitors of all kinds. The offerings change often. There is a strong focus on young people and new talent, with studios and workshops for those starting out in the arts. The place is meant to nurture as well as display. Alongside the exhibitions, the centre hosts concerts, dance, film and festivals, making it a place of many kinds of culture. Something is almost always happening. Outside, an open yard is used for open-air screenings, markets and events in the warmer months. It adds another stage to the site. Traces of the building's industrial past survive in its brickwork and in restored decorations showing the parts of old trams. They link the place to its history. Because each space keeps its own hours around the events it holds, visitors do well to check the programme before coming. The calendar guides any visit. It stands on Via Giulio Cesare Procaccini, north-west of the centre of Milan.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: Via Giulio Cesare Procaccini 4, Milan, Italy, 20154

Website: https://www.fabbricadelvapore.org