At the top of Pirellone, over 125 meters above sea level, nature returns as the protagonist in the heart of the city. The peregrine falcon couple Giò and Giulia welcomed the first two chicks of 2026, born within a few hours of each other. The first broke its shell yesterday morning, April 6, while the second arrived in the afternoon, transforming the day into a real celebration for enthusiasts who have followed the nesting for years. The images transmitted from the nursery’s webcam immediately made the rounds on social media, fueling the enthusiasm of thousands of citizens fond of this urban story.
A couple who have become a city symbol
Giò and Giulia are now a familiar presence in Milan. Since 2014, the year of the first sighting, the couple has returned every season to occupy the same panoramic point of the skyscraper. Their name is a tribute to the architect Gio Ponti and his wife Giulia Vimercati, thus linking wildlife to the history of the city’s architecture. Over time, the installation of an artificial nest and cameras has made it possible to observe every phase of their life: from courtship to hatching, up to the chicks’ first attempts at flight. A continuous tale that has transformed hawks into true urban celebrities.
Waiting for two more eggs to hatch
As happens every year, the couple began to frequent the nursery already in the first winter months. The first sightings are in January, then courtship and finally egg-laying between the end of February and the beginning of March. Now the hatching of the first two chicks marks an important stage, but the season is not over yet: two more eggs remain in the nest, which could hatch in the next few hours or days. A process that you can follow live 24 hours a day on the Lombardy Region portal (accessible at this link).
Nature and city, a spectacular balance
The story of the Pirellone falcons represents a surprising example of coexistence between wildlife and the urban environment. Amid the traffic and buildings, birds of prey continue to choose this high point as an ideal place to raise their family. The birth of the new chicks confirms the stability of the couple and the success of the protection project. Meanwhile, Milan observes, gets excited and waits: the little ones will grow rapidly and the first flight tests will soon begin, transforming the sky above the city once again into a unique natural spectacle.
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