The city of Milan is considered the Italian capital of economics and fashion being at the same time ancient and modern, stylish and popular.

The most important religious constructions you can admire in Milan are:

The Cathedral or Duomo

The Sant’Ambrogio Basilica

This is a beautiful Romanesque basilica dedicated to the Milan’s Patron Saint. Inside this church you can see important finds and artistic works that testify 1600 years of history of this city. This basilica is preceded by a squared porch carrying on its façade five wide arches and two lateral towers.

The Sant’Eustorgio Basilica

This is a wonderful medieval construction  built at the beginning of the XIV century for the Bishop Eustorgio who moved from Constantinople to Milan carrying the Magi’s memorabilia that are stll now preserved in the namesake Chapel.

The San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica

This church is placed in front of the Roman Columns being the unique evidence of a III century temple. This wonderful construction is characterized by many stylistic superimpositions due to the different restorations it underwent throughout time. Here you can note Paleochristian elements (like its mosaics) mixed with more recent features like its XVII century dome and its XIX century façade.  

The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie

This church was built during the XV century but it was successively finished by Bramante who created its wonderful Tribune, its Cloister and its Old Sacristy. In its refectory called Cenacolo Vinciano you can see the wall ornamented with “The Last Supper” painted by Leonardo da Vinci.

The other buildings that testify the history of this Italian city are:

The Sforzesco Castle

The Monumental Cemetery

This big Byzantine cemetery was constructed during the XIX century: its central part, called “Famedio”, is the burial-place of very important national and international personalities like Alessandro Manzoni, Salvatore Quasimodo, Eugenio Montale and Maria Callas. This cemetery is full of funeral monuments like statues, chapels and other artistic works made by famous Italian artists.

The Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale)

This is a very ancient palace placed in Duomo Square and built during the XII century. In the past it was the symbol of the political power in Milan but now it is used as a seat for temporary exhibitions. The “Sala delle Cariatidi” surely represents the most fascinating room of this palace: this is the sole neoclassic room that lived through the II World War bombings. It hasn’t been deliberately reconstructed in order to make people think about all the terrible consequences of war.

The Arco della Pace (The Peace Arch)

At the centre of the Sempione Square there is this imposing monument built during the Napoleonic period and characterized by an high of 25 meters. This is a neoclassic construction ornamented by marble statues and Corinthian columns. On its top there is the striking bronze “Sestiga” (a chariot drawn by six horses).

The Scala Theatre

The San Lorenzo Columns

This is the sole Roman monument remained in Milan. It is made up by 16 columns placed in front of the San Lorenzo Basilica: they are the ruins of an ancient Roman temple.

Staying in Milan you can also visit several museums like:

Villa Belgioioso Bonaparte

This construction (also called “Villa Reale”) was built during the end of the XVIII century being one of the most important example of neoclassic architecture in Europe. Inside this villa there are wide halls ornamented by wonderful stuccos and decorations. You should admire the beautiful living room’ fresco titled “Parnaso” by Andrea Appiani. Outside there is a wonderful English style garden.

In this villa there is the Modern Art Gallery called “GAM – Galleria d’arte Moderna” where you can admire the best Italian artistic works made during the XIX century. In this collections there also are statues by Canova, portraits by Bossi and Appiani, and works by Hayez, Segantini and Medardo Rosso. At the end of this collection there is the very famous painting titled “Quarto Stato” by Pellizza da Volpedo.

In this Villa’s stables there is the “PAC – Padiglione dell’Arte Contemporanea“. This gallery is the seat of exhibitions dedicated to the Italian and International Contemporaneous Art.

Villa Belgioioso Bonaparte is placed in Palestro street at the entry of the “Indro Montanelli” public gardens.

The Cenacolo Vinciano

The Scala Theatre Museum

In this interesting museum you can find several collections of costumes and theatrical set designs that are very important from a cultural and a historical point of view. Some rooms are focused on the Scala Theatre’s architecture and on the life of the famous Italian music maker Giuseppe Verdi. Visiting the other rooms you can see ancient musical instruments, curtains and costumes that belonged to great artists like Maria Callas and Rudolf Nureyev.

The Brera Pinacoteca

This art gallery was built in 1809 by Napoleon becoming the ideal place to preserve a great number of  artistic works “confiscated” from churches and monasteries all around Europe. Here you can see works made from the XIV century to the XX century admiring masterpieces by Piero della Francesca, Raffaello, Mantenga, Bramante and by Caravaggio. In the courtyard there is a wonderful Canova’s statue representing Napoleon.

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

This art gallery is placed in the namesake palace placed in the very centre of Milan. This is the most ancient museum in this city containing beautiful paintings by Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello and Botticelli. Here there also is an important library containing ancient codes, manuscripts and books.

The Ancient Art Museum

This museum is placed in the Sforzesco Castle containing very important sculptures created between the IV and the XVI century: here you can see for example the funeral monument of Gastone di Foix and the “Pietà Rondinini” by Michelangelo.

The Museum of Science and Technique

This museum is dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci and it is placed in an ancient monastery. This is one of the most interesting scientific museums in the world: here you will find a surface of 40.000 square metres used to organize many exhibitions focused on scientific subjects like astronomy or  information technology. You should admire the samples and the machineries created according to the Leonardo da Vinci’s plans.

The Alessandro Manzoni’s Museum

This museum is precisely placed in the house where this famous Italian writer lived with his family from 1814 to 1873. His office looks exactly like it did when he died. Visiting this house you can also see all his portraits and heirlooms.

Opening days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Opening Hours: From 9:00 to 12:00 A.M. – From 14:00 to 16:00 P.M.
Free Entry.

The Triennale

This is the veritable temple of the Italian design. In the Art Palace’s  big halls there are: the Permanent Collection of Italian Design, the Architecture’s Gallery, the Coffee Design, the Art Book (a well-provided library of design books) together with other spaces dedicated to international events and to catering. 

To discover the most romantic and fascinating side of Milan you should visit the characteristic Navigli zone: those called “Navigli” are some artificial canals that date back to the XII century.

Today the Naviglio Grande (the Big Naviglio) and the Naviglio Pavese (that connects Milan to Pavia) represent two very fascinating places because they are surrounded by old and characteristic houses, by antique stores, and by a great number of clubs and pubs.

In this Navigli area you can see:

The Milan’s Exhibition Centres called FieraMilano Rho – Pero and  Fieramilano City:

Fieramilano Rho – Pero

Fieramilano is the biggest trade show in Europe and a real masterpiece of contemporaneous architecture. Rho – Pero is one of the most important exhibition areas in the world thanks to its surface of 345.000 square metres, to its excellent services, to its innovative design, materials and technologies. The Milan’s subway directly arrives into this area that will be the seat of the “EXPO 2015″.

Fieramilano City

This exhibition area is placed in the urban centre being today characterized by a new futuristic, technologic and eco sustainable structure made up by 36 conference centres and by a beautiful auditorium.

Tortona Street

This a fascinating street just like all its surrounding area that in the past was full of abandoned factories. Now this zone is the centre of creative activities like photo and design studios, theatrical laboratories and big cultural foundations. Here there are some famous places like Superstudio Più and Superstudio 13 (the seat of the Fashion Week), the Museum of Cultures and Cities and the Arnaldo Pomodoro Foundation dedicated to the famous contemporaneous sculptor.

The Brera District

This is one of the most exclusive places in Milan characterized by the presence of open-air cafés and boutiques. This zone includes Brera Street, Pontaccio Street, Corso Garibaldi and Corso Como being ornamented by XVIII century palaces like the famous Brera Palace that is the seat of the “Pinacoteca”.

Staying in Milan you can also go for a walk in one of the beautiful public gardens of this city like:

The Parco Nord (North Park)

This park is placed in the northern part of Milan: here you can have a rest being surrounded by limes, horse chestnuts, hawthorns and hazels exploring veritable woods made up by poplars and maples. Other two beautiful parks are Parco Sempione and the Fun & Fun recreation ground especially dedicated to children.

The Parco Sempione (Sempione Park)

This park is placed behind the Sforzesco Castle with all its small lakes, its lawns, its woods and its small bridges. The most important monuments of this park are the Napoleonic Arena, the Tower planned by Giò Ponti and the Milan’s Triennale.

The Porta Venezia Gardens

These beautiful gardens are placed between Palestro street and Porta Venezia. Here you can admire different flora species together with many monuments dedicated to important personalities of the Italian history. 

In Milan other places that deserve your attention are:

The Vittorio Emanuele Gallery

This gallery was built in 1870 and it is called the “Milan’s drawing room”: walking through its Latin cross structure made up by glass and iron you can see ancient cafés, restaurants, boutiques and historical libraries. 

The Mercanti Square 

This square is placed near the Milan’s cathedral and it is surrounded by beautiful historical palaces belonging to different periods like the Palazzo della Ragione (1200), the Loggia degli Osii, the Scuole Palatine Palace (1600) and the Giureconsulti Palace.

The San Babila Square

This square is placed in the very urban centre of this city being connected to the Duomo Square by the street called Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Many buildings surrounding this square were built during the fascist period.

The S. Fedele Square

This square is ornamented by two important XVI century monuments: one of them is the Church of San Fedele and the second one is the Marino Palace that today is the seat of the Milan’s municipality.

In Velasca Square there is a tower that is a sort of strange skyscraper that becomes larger after its 18° floor.

In the square called Piazza delle Meraviglie d’Oro there is Porta Romana that was the ancient official entry of this city.

All the districts surrounding the two streets called Via Monte Napoleone and Via Della Spiga are the centre of economy and industry. Here you will find all the flagship stores of the most important fashion brands of the world. Via Monte Napoleone is the most famous and luxurious street in Milan forming together with Via della Spiga, Via Sant’Andrea and Via Pietro Verri the so-called “Fashion Quadrilateral”.

The Pirelli Skyscraper

This is one of the most famous symbols of Milan. This building (also called “Pirellone”) is placed in Duca d’Aosta Square where there also is the Central Railway Station. This is an important architectonical work typical of the Italian rationalism: thanks to an high of 123 metres it is one of the highest reinforced concrete buildings in the world.

The Giuseppe Meazza or  San Siro Stadium

The two famous local football teams are the A. C. Milan and the Inter. In this stadium you can watch important football matches with all the characteristic supporters’ choreography. In this construction, that can contain 80.000 people, there also is the unique football museum in Italy.

For your nightlife you can choose among a long series of cafés, wine bars, pubs, clubs and discos that are mostly placed in the zones surrounding Porta Ticinese, the Navigli and Porta Romana.

Gastronomy

Typical Milan’s gastronomical products are the Salame di Milano (Milan’s Salami), made up by thinly minced pork and beef meat, and cheeses: among them there are the Mascarpone and the Gorgonzola with its sharp and persistent flavour. This creamy cheese characterized by its typical mould blue-veins can be also used to season first courses or to flavour the polenta (the Italian cornmeal porridge).

Other local cheeses are the Crescenza and the Stracchino made up by a smooth milk cream that can be spread on bread or accompaigned with raw vegetables.

In Milan before dinner you should usually have an aperitif because this is has become a well-established custom in this city. Among all the possible drinks you can choose there is the classical Negroni cocktail (made up by bitter aperitif, Gin, Red Martini and ice) that you can drink eating some appetizers. After that you can go to one of the several Milanese restaurants specialized in traditional food.

As first course you can choose the classic “Risotto alla Milanese” prepared with a full-bodied beef broth and saffron.

As second dish you can eat the classical “Cassoeula”: this is a very nourishing dish made up by different “poor” parts of pork meat (spare ribs, rinds, legs and ears) cooked with cabbage and with other vegetables. If you aren’t so courageous you can choose the traditional “Cotoletta alla Milanese” that is a veal cutlet in breadcrumbs. Another option is represented by the “Vitello Tonnato” that is veal dressed with a sauce made up by tuna, mayonnaise, anchovies and capers.

You can better appreciate all these dishes drinking one of the most known local wine: the Barbera dell’Oltrepò Pavese.

At Christmas you can finish your meal with a delicious slice of “Panettone”: this is the typical dome-shaped cake with sultanas and candied fruit that become even more delightful if accompaigned with the traditional cream made up by mascarpone cheese.

Traditions

The “Oh bej, oh bej” Traditional Fair

The “Carnevale Ambrosiano” with its typical masks

The Magi Parade

Events:

The Scala Theatre Opera Season

Milano Capitale della Moda (Milan, Fashion Capital)

The Craftsmanship Fair (Fiera dell’Artigianato)

The International Furniture Trade Show (Fiera del Mobile)

Milano World Press Photo

Vinilmania

Giornata FAI di Primavera  (The Spring FAI Day): During the third week-end of May many Milan’s historical palaces and monuments, usually closed during the rest of the year, can be visited thanks to this special event that aims at inviting inhabitants and tourists to discover all those beautiful places that are often inaccessible.

How to arrive

By Car

Milan is connected to all the Italian highways that will lead you to the wide orbital road of this city: coming from Turin, Venice and Verona you should go through the A4 highway, coming from Bologna, Florence and Rome you should go through the A1 highway, coming from Genoa and from the Liguria region you should go through the A7 highway. You  have also to know that leaving from Milan through the A8/A9 highway you can easily reach the Como Lake and the Lake Maggiore.

The Milan’s orbital road is divided into three parts: East orbital road (Tangenziale Est), West orbital road (Tangenziale Ovest) and North orbital road (Tangenziale Nord).

By Train

Milan is at the middle of many national and international railway lines. The main railway station is which one called “Milano Centrale” that is very closed to the urban centre. Many trains leave everyday from this railway station connecting this city to all the Italian territory and to foreign nations like France, Swiss, and Germany.

From the other railway station called “Milano Cadorna” you can catch the “Malpensa Express” train that will lead you to the Malplensa Airport.

By Plain

In Milan there are two aieports:

The Intercontinental Malpensa Airport (MXP) is the main one of this city to which it is connected through the Malpensa Express train and through the buses of the Malpensa Shuttle service.

The Linate Airport (LIN) is just used for national and European flights. From this airport you can catch a bus service that will bring you to the main railway station called “Milano Centrale”. The Intercontinental Malpensa Airport and the Linate Airport are connected to each other by the Air Pullman shuttle service.

The International Airport of Orio al Serio (BGY) is the first low cost airport in Italy being 45 km far from Milan. This airport is connected to the Milan’s main railway station through a bus service carried out by the two companies called “Autostradale” and “Locatelli Air Pullman“.

…Enjoy your stay in Milan!

Related Articles:

Milan Fashion Capital (Milano Capitale della moda)

The Milan Cathedral

The Magi’s Parade in Milan

The “Teatro alla Scala” in Milan

Vinilmania in Milan

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