Residents and tourists will have to get around via bike, electric scooter or public transport from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm local time.
Several streets will be excluded from the ban, in particular to allow access to the San Siro Stadium, where AC Milan will play Hellas Verona in the afternoon.
The measure – which is not the first time that Italy’s economic capital has banned driving within the city – has been criticised by some, with the regional counsellor for the environment, Raffaele Cattaneo, calling it “demagogy with a green sauce”.
Milan’s mayor, Beppe Sala, acknowledged the measure is not an effective long-term solution to the city’s pollution problem, pointing a finger at polluting heating systems and cars.
Smog has long been a problem in Italy’s industrial north, especially in Milan and the nearby city of Turin.
Earlier this month, Milan and Rome enforced bans on the most polluting vehicles amid a “smog emergency” in Italy’s major cities.
A European Court of Auditors report published in September 2018 found that cars were a “major source of urban air pollution” in Milan and said the most effective measure would be to limit their use.
Sala recently proposed a ban on smoking at bus and tram stops in Milan, as part of a scheme to prohibit smoking altogether in open spaces by 2030.
The proposal will be submitted to the city council in March.
