As a consequence of the demographic upheavals and transformations that have redesigned the social and economic map of the province of Milan since the 1970s, the area has developed beyond all recognition, turning in just a few years into one large and increasingly widespread conurbation.

3,869,037 inhabitants distributed over an area of 1,982 sq km, the province of Milan is one of the most densely populated in Europe. In fact, it has 1,939 inhabitants per sq km (ten times greater than the national average) and despite covering only 8.3% of the territory of Lombardy, it accounts for 41% of the region’s population. Of the 189 Lombard municipalities, no fewer than six have a population of over 50,000.

At the same time, however, the metropolitan area of Milan is also one with numerous natural and environmental resources since over 50% of it (equivalent to 982 sq km) is dedicated to agriculture and forestry.

The metropolitan area of Milan is Italy’s main economic and industrial crossroads, providing a host of excellent opportunities but also setting some of the major challenges typical of global urban areas.

From an institutional point of view, the Province of Milan has promoted two important initiatives to further understanding, both locally and internationally, of the features, identity, excellence and prospects of the individual municipalities (the PromoComune project) and of the various existing supra-municipal areas (the Città di Città project).

Territorial planning
PromoComune web site 
"Città di Città" project
Chartography service
New Province of  Monza and Brianza
Monza and Brianza on line
Alto Milanese's portal
Lombardy's protected areas  Parks in the Province of Milan