Heracles Gymnasium
Heracles Gymnasium is a boxing gym and cultural space dedicated to the mental, physical, and intellectual health of young people. Nestled in the heart of Milan, it is housed in a former factory dating back to the late 1800s. It is a unique place to train the body while nourishing it with theater, music, art, and philosophy.
Heracles Gymnasium was founded in 2015 by Renato De Donato, a former national lightweight boxing champion and current researcher at the Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement at the University of Verona.
The idea behind this peculiar multifunctional center draws inspiration from the gymnasia of the Ancient Greece, which were the primary placees for new generations' athletic and cultural education. Heracles's spatial design is also inspired by the style of Greco-Hellenistic buildings. The center is dedicated to sports disciplines (like boxing and calisthenics) with cultural spaces on the sides: a library and study room, a wine bar, and a hall equipped to host theatrical performances, concerts, exhibitions, and conferences.
The two souls of Heracles alternate organically every week. During the day, the gym provides space for athletes to train, while cultural events are programmed in the evenings over the weekends through a curated calendar called Heracles Symposium.