Just a five-minute stroll from one of Europe's priciest shopping areas, the homeless sleep in cages and pens in what was the city zoo before the quarters were deemed too cruel for animals.
On their way to work or shop, curious Milanese stop to peer through the wire fence around the abandoned zoo to catch a glimpse of the 100 or so men, mostly jobless immigrants, who stretch out at night on beds of straw.But some are Italians, like Gabriele, who has been sleeping for several weeks in the cage that once was home to an African elephant.
"They look at us as if we were beasts," Gabriele said Tuesday, giving only his first name.
A recent article in the national newspaper Corriere della Sera, has embarrassed Milan, which often thumbs its nose at Rome and considers itself as belonging more to developed northern Europe than to Italy, with its poor south.
But like most other big Italian cities, Milan is faced with a tidal wave of tens of thousands of immigrants, mostly from North Africa and Asia. Many of the newcomers are illegal entrants looking for work.
Following the publicity, City Councilman Massimo De Carolis announced that the zoo, in the center of a downtown park, will be leveled soon to make way for public gardens.
Since police started checking identification papers a few days ago, dozens of North Africans and other illegal immigrants have fled during the day but return at night to the zoo, passing through holes in the fence.
Milan's zoo, which attracted 6 million visitors during its 60-year history, was closed down last year. after demonstrations by animal rights groups that complained the cages were too small and unsafe. The animals were moved to other zoos several months ago.