Heracles Gymnasium

Heracles Gymnasium is a boxing gym and cultural space dedicated to the mental, physical, and intellectual health of young people. It is a welcoming and unique place to train the body while nourishing it with theater, music, art, and philosophy.

Nestled in the heart of Milan, at Via Padova 21, a stone's throw from Piazzale Loreto, it's housed in a former factory dating back to the late 1800s.

The Via Padova district, where the Gymnasium operates, is a historically significant urban area. It has been defined as an urban cental-periphery «contested» between different cultural and social identities. This area, with its rich history and diverse population, is the setting where 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.

Heracles Gymnasium is a ring where culture is made with commitment, sweat, and passion. It is a safe space where work clothes, armor, and stereotypes are shed for dressing with dedication, strength, and intelligence.