Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

"Uhhh...thanks...you shouldn't have...really.... Pssst, what are we going to do with it?"

That probably captures the real comments of Milan's city council members when presented with...More......

... this super gigantic bronze sculpture (the base comes up to about my chest, and I'm fairly tall) purporting to reproduce the horse that Leonardo da Vinci would have produced for the commemorative equestrian sculpture depicting Francesco Sforza, which originally was intended for the area between the city and the Sforza Castle.

In my previous message with info on the horse (see http://mymilanitaly.blogspot.com/2011/06/photoless-friday-15-aida-and-notre-dame.html), I sanctimoniously stated that the Americans didn't understand that it wasn't really Leonardo's horse.

I stand corrected.

Apparently, the Italians in charge of San Siro don't understand either: there are big banners touting "Leonardo's horse" all over the front of the gallop stadium (as opposed to the trotting stadium) in front of which the statue has been perched.

Spurious, or hypothetical, it's still interesting to see, and a trip out to the horse races might be fun, anyway, since the 1920s structures by Paolo Vietti-Violi are delightful. (Took a peek at the posted rates for getting in to follow the races: men E. 5, women E. 1 ... now why is that? So few women go to the races that they want to encourage them to come? For more info on the racing, go to: http://www.ippodromimilano.it/ ... an English version is available by clicking on the link in the upper middle right.)

So...how to get there?

Get yourself to Piazzale Lotto. Various busses go, but since the numbers may change it's not helpful to cite them. There is a Lotto stop on the red number 1 metro (subway) line, too. The subway exits all seem to be on the opposite side of the piazza from the direction that you need to go. Get above ground, and look for trees. There's a snippet of park next to the entrance of the Lido di Milano, a 1930s historic sport center with a city-owned pool, tennis courts, etc. You'll need to walk along the park next to the Lido on Via Caprilli. (For Lido entrance info in Italian: http://www.milanosport.it/intranet/MILANOSPOR/Impianti/LIDO1/index.htm)

Across the street from where the little park stops Via Ciprilli continues along a grafitti-covered stuccoed brick wall enclosing the race track grounds.

Keep following the graffiti-covered wall for about 10 minutes to this adorable little entrance.

It was open today, Sunday, even when there were no races to give access to the little pizzeria tucked into the right hand end of the secondary stands (the one with the horse sculpture in front). If you're able to go when there are races it will be easier to get closer to the horse.

Enjoy!

(I took these photos around 2:30-3 P.M. today for your personal non-commercial enjoyment.)