Milan, places to visit?

An economic center of international appeal, capital of Italian fashion and design.

The lively shopping scene of this Lombardy city intermingles with the unexpected richness of its monuments, vestiges of the passing of various populations who made this northern city one of the most outstanding places in Italy in terms of economics and tourism.

After being subjected to Celtic and Roman domination, the rule of the Goths, Longobards, Gauls and the splendid Renaissance “signorie” of the Sforza and Visconti families, Milan lived for many years under the domination of Austria. It was liberated from Austria in the nineteenth century after the Wars of Independence. Today the city of Milan is the centre of numerous international trade shows and the beating heart of an economy that extends well beyond the borders of Italy.

But the tourist visiting Milan has plenty of history to see thanks to a long literary, artistic, musical and even scientific heritage that has made the city great over the centuries.

Museums

Milan is filled with museums, the best known and most important being the Pinacoteca di Brera (Brera Art Gallery), the Castello Sforzesco (Sforzesco Castle), which houses among others the Pietà Rondanini by Michelangelo, but also many House Museums, which belonged to the Milanese élite of the past, including Poldi Pezzoli, Villa Bagatti Valsecchi and Villa Necchi Campigli.

Even in terms of the natural world, the city is well represented, with the Museum of Natural History, the well-stocked Civic Aquarium, the Planetarium and the Museum of Science and Technology, which is dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci who during the Renaissance worked for many years in Milan.

Last Supper in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

A work not to be missed is the Last Supper in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, frescoed by this great Tuscan artist.

The Duomo of Milan

The Duomo is the symbol of the city of Milan and one of the most important examples of Gothic architecture in Italy. This globally renowned cathedral is constructed of pink-streaked white marble and abounds with decorations: spires, pinnacles, statues, cornices and enormous windows. The golden statue of the “Madonnina”, symbol of the city, tops the main spire, which is 108.5 metres tall.

An elevator allows the access to the terraces from where it is possible to enjoy a skyline of the city. On Piazza Duomo there are also Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Museo del Novecento and Palazzo Reale.

There are also many other churches that represent previous eras in history, such as the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, dedicated to the patron saint of the city, and the Basilica of Sant’Eustorgio, where, each year, the visit of the Three Wise Men to baby Jesus is remembered with a re-enactment procession.

The Sant’Ambrogio Basilica is dedicated to the Patron Saint of the city and was founded by Bishop Ambrose in 379.

Outside the church is characterized by a Romanesque aspect.

Theaters

Milan also offers entertainment for all tastes: for lovers of opera and ballet, there is the Teatro alla Scala (Scala Theatre), renowned throughout the world and whose prestigious season begins each year on 7th December, the feast day of Sant’Ambrogio (St. Ambrose).

The city also offers enthusiasts of cabaret places such as the Derby in Via Monterosa and Zelig, which is renowned as a launching pad for young artists in the sector.

Fashion with a capital F is a way of life in Milan, and fashion shows and events fill the city with professionals from all over the world. Milan also plays an important design role, hosting extremely important design trade fairs. In this flourishing of ideas, exhibitions and shows, plenty of time is also dedicated to sport, at the Meazza di San Siro Stadium, which is known above all to soccer lovers, but also used - due to its vast size - for concerts given by famous singers and bands.

Numerous Trade Fairs and Conferences are organised in Milan because the city offers many suitable structures for hosting events of this kind, ranging from the immense Rho Trade Fair Centre to the Milano City Trade Fair Centre and the small gem in nearby Novegro, which hosts specialist trade shows involving old books, toys, vintage clothing or period furniture.

In spite of its fame as an industrial city, Milan offers a vast array of green spaces, with over 50 parks dotted throughout the city.

Milanese cuisine

Milanese cuisine, although not as well known as other cities, offers some exceptional dishes, such as breaded veal cutlet (whose origins derive from Austrian domination), Milanese risotto with saffron and “ossibuchi” (veal shanks), but above all Panettone, famous throughout the world, which was apparently created by mistake by the chef of Ludovico il Moro, Duke of Milan in the fifteenth century.

Cotoletta Impanata

Risotto alla milanese

Ossibuchi

Panettone

It is said that during a Christmas dinner he burnt the sweet prepared and was helped by a young kitchen boy called Toni, who proposed making a simple dish of flour, sugar, butter, candied fruit and raisins.
It was a resounding success and the “pan de Toni” (literally, Toni’s bread) became the well-known Panettone…

Text by Anna Glik

Avion Tourism Magazine

Updated by Alisè Vitri
Photos only for editorial use: Sisterscom.com, Shutterstock
Reproduction prohibited. Copyright © Sisterscom.com

Video: www.yesmilano.it, www.turismo.milano.it

Tourism Board

www.turismo.milano.it

www.yesmilano.it

Official Tourist Info Point of Milan

InfoMilano
Piazza Duomo, 14 - Milano

YesMilano Tourism Space
Via dei Mercanti, 8 - Milano

Partnership with Booking.com

Where to sleep in Milan

Milan is a welcoming city and offers different possibilities for accommodation.

To find the ideal hotel and the best offers you can do a search for the stars but also for districts or landmarks.

STARS

Hotels for stars, differentiated by type of services:

DISTRICTS

Hotels in the districts

LANDMARKS

Hotels in tourist areas

Last Supper L. da Vinci

Basilica St Ambrose

Basilica San Lorenzo

Church St M. delle Grazie

AIRPORTS

Hotels near the airports

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WHERE TO GO IN MILAN

Tickets, Passes and Tours in Partnership with GetYourGuide

Monuments in Milan

CATHEDRAL OF MILAN

The Cathedral of Milan is the church that symbolises the entire city. Built entirely in Candoglia marble, its construction began in 1386. Inside the cathedral, the presbytery area is particularly interesting and was restored during the second half of the sixteenth century. At the top of the apsidal vault there is the relic of the Holy Nail of the Cross. Outside, the edifice is crowned by the main spire topped by the "Madonnina", a gold-plated copper statue of Our Lady, wich is 4 metres high and was placed in 1774. A climb to the rooftop terrace, afford a view over the city and the Alps when the weather is fine.

MILAN CATHEDRAL AND ROOFTOP TICKET

Skip the ticket line for Milan Duomo and rooftop

SFORZA CASTLE

The Sforza Castle of Milan was built in 1447-50 by Francesco Sforza, on the site of the former Visconti stronghold (1358-68). Beltrami carried out restoration work on the Castle, saving it from demolition.

The remains of previous constructions can be seen in the famous Piazza d'Armi (Armoury Square). Two towers characterise the structure: the Bona di Savoia Tower and the Rocchetta Tower.

Today, Sforza Castle houses the “Pietà Rondanini“ by Michelangelo Buonarroti and the Municipality Museums.

SFORZA CASTLE TOUR

Guided tour for Sforza Castle and Museums

SANTA MARIA DELLE GRAZIE CHURCH

This church was built between 1466 and 1490 according to the design of the architect Guiniforte Solari. A few years later, however, Ludovico il Moro called upon Bramante, the great architect from Urbino, to build the apsidal area; he also constructed two other gems in this church: the Cloister and the Old Sacristy. On one of the walls in the refectory of the old Dominican convent, Leonardo painted his famous "Last Supper", which was started in 1494 and finished in 1498. Leonardo did not “fresco” paint the work on wet walls, as was the customary manner, but used a special tempera on dry plaster, which unfortunately the best restoration techniques today still find a challenge.
legraziemilano.it

LA SCALA OPERA HOUSE

Housed in a wing of the Royal Palace, the theatre was destroyed by fire in 1775, but was later rebuilt as a much larger building using bricks. Its location was also changed, causing the demolition of the fourteenth-century church of Santa Maria della Scala. Between 1776 and 1778 Piermarini built the auditorium with six rows of galleries for boxes and gallery seating. Besides guaranteeing perfect acoustics, the wooden vault hides a fire-extinguishing tank. The interiors have been renovated several times and, following wartime destruction, were reconstructed by Secchi. The building underwent further restoration work between 2002 and 2004.

LA SCALA THEATRE TOUR

La Scala Theatre guided experience

Museums in Milan

BRERA ART GALLERY

Brera Art Gallery was founded, together with the Fine Arts Academy, in 1776 on Empress Maria Theresa's wishes, for educational purposes. One of the most famous museums in Europe, it houses splendid collections of Italian paintings from the 14th century to the Contemporary art.

The gallery exhibits masterpieces such as the "Pala di Federico da Montefeltro" (Brera Madonna) by Piero della Francesca, the "Lamentation over the Dead Christ" by Mantegna and “The Marriage of the Virgin" by Raphael, as well as paintings by Bellini, Lotto, Titian, Bramante, Rubens and Hayez. Modern art is represented by the Jesi Collection with works by Modigliani, Balla, Morandi, Braque and Picasso.

BRERA DISTRICT AND PINACOTECA TOUR

Guided tour through the Pinacoteca and Brera district

MUSEUM OF SCIENZE AND TECHNOLOGY

"LEONARDO DA VINCI"

The National "Leonardo da Vinci" Science and Technology Museum was founded in 1953, and today is the largest technical-science museum in Italy. The Museum offers one of the most important collections of model machines by Leonardo da Vinci, which is displayed in the gallery dedicated to him, as well as new interactive displays dedicated to the telegraph, telephone and television as well as an oil industry section, laboratories and interactive paths. Outside the museum, visitors can see the famous "Toti", the first submarine built in Italy after the Second World War. Launched in 1967, it reveals a part of Italian history, between the Cold War and technological specialisation.

LEONARDO DA VINCI TOUR

Virtual-Reality Leonardo da Vinci Tour

TRIENNALE DESIGN MUSEUM

On the first floor of the Palazzo Triennale, in an area of around 2,000 m², the museum reveals important scientific research that illustrates the history of Italian design from different angles. Opened in 2007, it is the first museum of Italian design and describes its many facets. The only one of its kind in the country, the museum, located on the historical site of the Milan Triennale, continuously reinvents itself and always offers new and different tours.

www.triennale.org

MUSEUM OF TWENTIETH CENTURY

The Museum of the Twentieth Century, housed in Palazzo Arengario, is one of the largest European buildings dedicated to culture. The museum has an area of 8,500 square metres, of which 4,000 m² are devoted to exhibition space. Items on show include works by Picasso, Braque, Klee, Modigliani, Fontana, Marinetti, de Chirico, Morandi, Burri, and other famous artists. The paintings and statues are displayed in chronological order and many have been donated from private collections.
www.museodelnovecento.org

Excursions and city recommended tours in Milan

SEMPIONE PARK

Designed by Emilio Alemagna, the park is located in the old Piazza d'Armi, between Sforza Castle and Piazza Sempione. The park features the Napoleonic Arena, an Aquarium, the Park Tower designed by Cesare Chiodi and Giò Ponti, the Art Theatre and the Triennale of Milan, a municipal library and also a sulphur spring, a lake and a romantic little bridge with the bronze mermaids taken from the old bridge over the Naviglio of Via San Damiano. Worthy of note is the metaphysical "pintoscultorea" fountain (1973), in which Giorgio De Chirico re-worked his much-loved theme of "mysterious baths".

CRUISE ON THE NAVIGLI

To discover the scenery of the Milan area, visitors can take a short cruise, starting from the Alzaia of Naviglio Grande, which takes them back in time over the same waters crossed by ancient barges on routes along the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese. The sluice system, in part designed by Leonardo da Vinci, is still visible. A lively nightlife and various restaurants can be found along the Navigli.

NAVIGLI TOURS

2-Hour Navigli Guided Walking Experience

Wine and appetizers on the Navigli

Navigli evening bike tour with aperitivo

MUSEUM AND LA SCALA THEATER

La Scala Museum and Theater Tour

MILAN BY NIGHT

2-hour walking tour

LAST SUPPER AND SANTA MARIA DELLE GRAZIE

The Last Supper and Santa Maria delle Grazie Tour

PINACOTECA AMBROSIANA AND CODEX ATLANTICUS

Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and da Vinci Codex Exhibition

SFORZA CASTLE

Milan Cathedral, Sforza Castle and Michelangelo’s Pietà Tour

MILAN WALKING TOUR

Milan and its main monuments on a 2.5-hour walking tour

MONUMENTAL CEMETERY

Monumental Cemetery of Milan guided experience

LEONARDO DA VINCI

Leonardo3 - the world of Leonardo Museum entrance ticket

Excursions and recommended tours in the surroundings

MONZA

Famous for its racing circuit, Monza is easily reached from Milan by public transport. The main city building is the Gothic cathedral (XIII-XIV century) with tower dating back to 1606. The altar of the chapel of Theodelinda, which was frescoed by Zavattari in 1444, guards the Crown of Iron forged with a nail from the cross of Christ. Covered in gold and gems (V-VIII centuries), it was used at the coronations of the kings of Italy from the Middle Ages onwards. Don’t miss the magnificent Villa Reale (1777-1870) (Royal Palace), the residence of the Habsburg court constructed under the guidance of Piermarini. King Umberto I was killed there in 1900. The motor racing circuit is also found in the Park and was built in 1806.

PARK OF MONZA TOUR

3-Hour Monza Park segway PT authorized tour