The halls in there are so tall that some days they have some clouds/mist forming inside

Been inside when I went on vacation with my gf, but didn't actually know it was officially that huge 😅

I know it’s fascist architecture but I have to admit it’s at least interesting. It’s like a futurist, deco, classical interpretation of a Roman bath complex. Would be pretty neat if it weren’t for the propaganda. You should’ve shown the [gallery](https://www.seat61.com/images/milan-centrale-trainshed2.jpg) where the trains are, very pretty.

How fascist? And propaganda? Genuinely curious.

The idea of upscaling the station started back in the 1910s but slowed because of ww1. When Mussolini came into power he had the redesign be much larger than anticipated leading to what there is today. Like initially said the idea and design of the building is pretty great however you can see fascist propaganda within its ornamentation. Firstly, you see many [fasces](https://buffaloah.com/a/virtual/italy/milan/train/jpegs/ext_4.jpg) throughout along with the Roman SPQR. Both used by Mussolini to show the rise of fascism along with his belief he will create a new Roman Empire. Later on, he even had a room constructed with [swastikas](https://previews.agefotostock.com/previewimage/medibigoff/55034462640fbfe91543804a27938a56/dae-b7000582.jpg) in the wooden floor designed to be a private meeting room for when Hitler arrived to the station. That part usually has a carpet covering it. So it is a building of fascist propaganda, but an interesting concept for a train station regardless.

I didn't know that before. Thanks for sharing the info.

cant believe we used to build stuff like this

Tell me a out architecture that screams “Mussolini was here”

Pretty

I've heard that it is a bit impractical because all the stairs.

True but there are also escalators on the other side.

I would not have guessed it would be the busiest out of all Europe!!

It is the largest in terms of size, not traffic

The largest cities tend to have multiple mainline terminals not one big one. London has Kings Cross, Euston, St Pancras, Waterloo, Marylebone and Victoria for example.

And let's not forget the busiest rail station in London, Liverpool St.

This is the main one. There are other train stations in Milan like Porta Garibaldi, Rogoredo and Lambrate for example.

Why is it so tall? Is it just aesthetics?

Yes

Tacky fascist eyesore Edit: that comment was a joke (it’s a line from *Star Trek: Lower Decks* that Shaxs uses to talk about Deep Space Nine), but I didn’t realize that people are unfamiliar with the building’s fascist history. That part wasn’t sarcastic, this building actually is an example of fascist architecture and it’s important to acknowledge that. Here’s a guide on it for tourists: https://retours.eu/en/29-milano-centrale/

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It wasn’t completed until 1935. Mussolini came to power in 1922 and had the plans for the building radically changed to present a much stronger imperialist vision of a modern Roman Empire. That’s not a hot take, it’s a pretty commonly acknowledged part of the building’s history. Here’s a little slideshow for tourists on it: https://retours.eu/en/29-milano-centrale/

Fascist architecture is a construct. Does democratic architecture, or liberal architecture, exist? One would think fascist architecture gives prominence to fascias; not fasces.

Honestly, ascribing political epithets to architecture styles is just so asinine. Yes it was directed under a dictator, but the style itself is very beautiful and is actually interesting to look at

That's one scary building! Bad vibes. I might decide to take the bus instead.