There’s a locked gate on Via Segantini that, every summer starting in 2022, has been a source of frustration for half of Milan. Behind it lie the still waters of the Argelati Pool, the city’s first outdoor swimming center—the “Lido dei Navigli”—where generations of Milanese have learned that in August, you don’t need the sea; all you need is a towel and a spot in the shade. Now that gate has an expiration date.
And here’s the news within the news: Argelati will no longer be just a summer spot. In short: the pool at the Navigli will be open even in winter, with rates like those of a municipal pool—not a beach club with three-digit admission fees.
What You’ll Find at the New Argelati
The redevelopment project for this historic Milanese space isn’t limited to simply refilling the pools with water. Here’s what it entails, point by point:
- A retractable (or openable) roof over the pools: the facility will be open for at least three out of four seasons. In other words: open swimming and classes even when you’re walking around the Navigli in a down jacket.
- A brand-new Piazza Arcole: trees, benches, and fountains in place of some of the parking spaces, with connections to the surrounding parks and Cascina Magolfa.
- The Roggia Boniforti will be revitalized: the historic canal will be rerouted toward Via Argelati and the park, restoring water to the neighborhood’s landscape.
- A social service within the facility, to staff the site year-round and strengthen its public role.
- Management has been entrusted to Milanosport, the city’s subsidiary: affordability is a requirement of the project, not a promise.
According to the resolution signed by Sports Councilor Martina Riva, the roof is an “essential element” for economic sustainability: more months of operation, more classes, and a budget that adds up. No “cathedral in the desert” from June to September, only to be silent the rest of the year.
Because the reopening of the Argelati Pool is the one Milan has been waiting for
A bit of context, for those who arrived in the city after 2022. The Argelati isn’t just any swimming pool: it’s Milan’s first outdoor swimming facility, with origins dating back to 1915 —the water, at first, came directly from the Naviglio canal. Between 1956 and 1962, it was renovated and expanded by Arrigo Arrighetti, the architect behind the major postwar public works projects.
Then, in September 2022, it closed due to structural deterioration and a lack of funds. Since then, summers in Milan have revolved around a handful of open municipal swimming pools, with lines at the entrance worthy of a sneaker release. In a city where reopenings can be counted on one hand, restoring the Argelati means giving the Navigli back one of its historic gathering places.
When it comes to swimming (let’s be honest)
With the City Council’s green light, the participatory phase comes to a close and the design phase begins: the selection of the winning design is expected in early 2027, after which construction will begin. It will take some patience before we can take that first dip, but this time the direction is clear.
In the meantime, anyone looking for swimming pools in Milan for the summer of 2026 will still have to make do with the facilities that are currently open. But among Milan’s most eagerly awaited reopenings, this one feels like a comeback: the water of the Navigli—the real thing—is about to return.
