Milan’s Pirelli Tower: A Peregrine Falcon Nursery
Milan, April 10, 2026 – The Pirelli Tower, a symbol of the Lombardy Regional Council, has once again become a nesting site for peregrine falcons. Resident pair Giò and Giulia, named after architect Gio Ponti and his wife, have welcomed three new chicks, bringing their total offspring raised on the skyscraper to 33.
A Decade of Urban Nesting
Giò and Giulia have made the 125-meter-high skyscraper their permanent home for twelve years, returning annually between February and March to nest. This year, the three chicks hatched from four eggs on Easter Monday, a moment captured and broadcast live via webcam.
Guido Pinoli, the wildlife technician who first identified the pair, emphasized a minimal human intervention approach, allowing nature to take its course. The falcons independently hunt pigeons, thrushes, and starlings, utilizing the abundant resources offered by the city, particularly the roofs and ledges of the nearby Central Station.
From Rocky Cliffs to City Skyscrapers
It is hypothesized that Giò and Giulia originated from the Insubric lakes, mistaking the skyscraper for a rocky cliff, the natural habitat of their species. This remarkable story highlights the adaptability of wild fauna to even the most urbanized environments.
The first sighting of the raptors dates back to April 2014, when the pair was discovered during maintenance work on the building’s roof. Subsequently, an artificial nest – a wooden basin with a bed of pebbles – was constructed to accommodate their nesting. Two webcams were installed at the nest, providing 24/7 live streaming of their high-altitude life.
Conservation and Public Engagement
The continuous live stream of Giò and Giulia’s nest has become a popular attraction, engaging the public with urban wildlife. It serves as a testament to successful coexistence between nature and urban development, offering a unique educational opportunity to observe these magnificent birds of prey up close.
The ongoing presence of these falcons on the Pirelli Tower underscores the importance of biodiversity in urban settings and the potential for cities to provide suitable habitats for various species.
