grattacieli

Grattacieli, plural of grattacielo, are tall building structures used for offices, housing, or mixed-use purposes. The term derives from gratta ('scratch') and cielo ('sky'), evoking the image of a structure that appears to scrape the sky.

In Italy, grattacieli proliferated mainly in the 20th century amid rapid urbanization and modernization. Early examples include Torre Piacentini in Genoa, completed around 1940 and among Europe’s first purpose-built tall office towers, and the Pirelli Tower in Milan, completed in 1958 and celebrated as a milestone of modernist design. For much of the postwar period, planning rules and historic preservation sensibilities kept city cores relatively low compared with contemporary international skylines.

Construction typically employs steel frames or reinforced concrete, with curtain-wall façades and setbacks to manage wind and seismic demands. In recent decades, tall buildings have become focal points in new business districts and redevelopment schemes, often combining offices with residences, hotels, and public space.

Notable Italian grattacieli include the Unicredit Tower in Milan (231 m, completed 2012), a defining element of the Porta Nuova district, alongside older landmarks such as Torre Piacentini and the Pirelli Tower, which illustrate the evolution of high-rise architecture in Italy.