Concierge.com's insider take:

Erected in the 1930s, this lofty pavilion on the edge of the Parco Sempione gardens has found new life as an exhibition venue and design center after years of decline. Originally built for a triennial art show, hence the name, the renovated space now plays host to temporary exhibits of contemporary art and architecture (subjects have included Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roy Lichtenstein, and Frank Gehry). The ground-level café, with its mismatched designer-classic chairs, has become a popular meeting spot, and the adjacent shop is a good place to stock up on art books and gift items. Since 2007, the Triennale has also housed Milan's first permanent design museum, with a collection dedicated to the city's strong 20th-century design tradition, displayed in a series of long-running themed shows. In 2006, the Triennale opened a sister gallery, Triennale Bovisa, in a northwestern former industrial suburb that has become a university and cultural hub (31 Via Lambruschini; 39-02-3657-7801).—Updated by Lee Marshall

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