Things to Do and See in Milan

Milan, Italy’s second-largest city, is considered a true European metropolis—but that’s not all; since the postwar period, it has also been the city of opportunity, Italy’s economic and financial capital, and the heartland of Italian fashion and design. Furthermore, the interplay of diverse cultures has made Milan one of the most fascinating places in Italy: throughout the historic center, you’ll find Neo-Gothic, Baroque, and Art Nouveau architecture, as well as post-war buildings in the pure styles of Italian Futurism and Rationalism. The city is divided into 20 districts, identified by numbers and each with its own name; the heart of the city is the Duomo, its quintessential symbol—a masterpiece of Gothic architecture dominated by its tall gilded copper spires, atop which stand some 3,400 statues, including the beloved Madonnina. Next to the Duomo, be sure to visit the neoclassical Royal Palace, home to major art exhibitions, and the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, “Milan’s living room,” lined with stores featuring the world’s most prestigious brands. Milan is, in fact, home to the famous fashion district, as renowned as those of Paris and New York: Via Monte Napoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni, and Via Sant’Andrea, where the world’s biggest names in fashion are concentrated. Representing the Renaissance period is the Castello Sforzesco, the city’s most important historical monument, along with the Torre del Filarete and Parco Sempione. Not far away, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana houses an exceptionally rich collection of paintings by great artists, including Caravaggio, Titian, and Raphael. Meanwhile, the Pinacoteca di Brera holds masterpieces such as Andrea Mantegna’s “The Dead Christ.” Still on the subject of art, Leonardo da Vinci left his most significant artistic legacy in Milan; the most striking example is the famous *The Last Supper*, housed in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie—both of which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And then there’s La Scala, the temple of music, built at the behest of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa; it is Italy’s most famous theater and one of the largest and most renowned in the world. Famous for having become one of the trendiest areas, the Navigli can be described as a bohemian neighborhood, teeming with artists, musicians, politicians, and architects; an area also brimming with trendy bars and restaurants, which emerged following the construction of artificial canals, including the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Martesana. Finally, for sports fans, we can’t fail to mention the famous San Siro Stadium, where the most anticipated match is undoubtedly the derby between the two famous “home” teams: Inter and Milan. The rest of the province is also rich in true treasures waiting to be discovered, including castles, extraordinary villas, abbeys, and palaces. Among the castles, we highlight the Borromeo d’Adda Castle on the banks of the Muzza River in Cassano d’Adda, which boasts a history spanning a thousand years; in Legnano, the Castle of San Giorgio, built in the 13th century; in Cusago, the Visconti Castle, considered one of the region’s finest examples of castle architecture; and in Casalpusterlengo, the crenellated Pusterla Tower with its two superimposed sections. As for religious buildings, don’t miss the medieval abbeys such as those at Chiaravalle and—perched on a hill overlooking the Ticino Valley—the Abbey of Morimondo, not to mention the Church of Santa Maria Nuova in Abbiategrasso.