The name stems from Medieval Italian "braida" or "brera", derived from Old Lombardic "brayda" (often Latinized as "praedium"), meaning a land expanse either cleared of trees or naturally lacking them.

This is because around the year 900, the Brera district was situated just outside Milan's city walls and was kept clear for military reasons.

[1] Both the academy and the gallery are located in Palazzo Brera, the main historical building of the area; this same building also houses Milan's botanical garden as well as an astronomical observatory and the Braidense National Library.

Other features that contribute to the character of Brera include restaurants, bars, nightclubs, antique and art shops, colourful street markets, as well as fortune tellers' booths.

[3] Well-known journalists, art critics and fiction writers contributed over the years, including Rossana Bossaglia, Giuseppe Pontiggia, Guido Vergani, Vittoria Colpi, Carlo Castellaneta and Giulio Signori.