Historic center of Milan

Historic center of Milan is a district of the city of Milan. The historic center is contained within the area once delimited by the medieval city walls and today by the streets that form the Cerchia dei Navigli easily distinguishable on the city map. The historic center includes perhaps Milan's most popular tourist attractions, including the Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, and the Teatro alla Scala. Compact in size and easily explored on foot. The historic center is just as rich in historical monuments as it is in boutiques, restaurants and cafes; all within walking distance of each other.

How to orient yourself
Finding your way around the historic center of Milan is very easy: just take the Duomo as a reference, exactly in the centre. Once in Piazza Duomo it is possible to easily reach all the other main attractions:

The Royal Palace and the Museo del Novecento overlook the square directly;
The Teatro alla Scala, Palazzo Marino and the Museum of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are located on the other side of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (enter the gallery and continue straight until the exit)
The shopping area, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, is located behind the cathedral. In this area you can find la Rinascente, a department store, big chain stores such as Zara (a store also in Piazza Duomo), H&M and Abercrombie & Fitch.
The Castello Sforzesco and the EXPO Gate are located beyond the Duomo: to reach them, just continue on via dei Mercanti and via Dante.

 

How to get in

Reaching the historic center usually means arriving at its central point: Piazza Duomo. Across from two metro lines and with many trams stopping right next to the square. The only railway station located within the historic center is Milano Cadorna, particularly in the western area.

From Milan Malpensa
Take the Malpensa Express train to Milano Cadorna station and from there simply enjoy the historic center on foot to the east, or take the red metro line (M1) to the Duomo. Trams 1 and 27 take you into the heart of the historic centre, on a route with some memorable views.

From Linate airport
Bus lines 73 and X73 connect Linate airport with Piazza San Babila to the east of the historic centre, which has an M1 metro station.

From Bergamo Orio al Serio airport
If you choose to arrive from Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport by coach or train, you will most likely end up at Milano Centrale train station.

From the Milano Centrale railway station
If you have the time, stamina (preferably with little or no luggage) and the weather is good, you can simply walk south from the facade facing the station, along via Pisani, piazza della Repubblica and via Turati. This will take you along a varied and impressive part of the Centro Direzionale and on to La Scala theatre.

Those who don't mind taking a stroll can park their car at Garage Sammartini 30 meters from Central Station and take the yellow line of the underground (M3, towards San Donato) to the Duomo.

 

Get around

Getting around
Within the historic center of Milan there are several public transport lines:

M1, with the Cairoli-Castello, Duomo, San Babila stations
M3, with Montenapoleone, Duomo, Missori stations
Just outside the center is the Milan Cadorna station with stops on the M1 and M2
Tram lines 1, 2, 3, 12, 14, 15, 23, 27
With a short walk it is still possible to reach all the main points of interest.

 

What to see

Churches

1 Duomo, Piazza Duomo (Metro MM1 or MM3 Duomo station; or with many other buses and trams). Entrance to the cathedral €3. Roof access for a fee; from the stairs: €10 adults, €5 students, in the lift: €14, concessions €7. There are cumulative tickets and cut queue called Fast-track. (Jun 2019). Rooftop: Mon-Sun 9am-5.30pm. The main church of Milan, a massive late Gothic building (begun 1386), in white marble, with hundreds of thousands of spiers and statues on its exterior and a famous facade. Don't miss the opportunity to go up to the roof and enjoy the spectacular view of the city between the Gothic spiers. On the roof of the cathedral is the famous madonnina, a statue by Giuseppe Perego in gilded copper, sung in the song Oh mia bela Madunina by Giovanni D'Anzi. Inside the cathedral, photos are theoretically prohibited; however, attendants rarely enforce this prohibition. Unless there are specific physical impediments, it is recommended to take the stairs (only 250 steps) and save €5. On average, it shouldn't take more than 5-6 minutes to walk up the stairs. It also includes a museum of the 700-year history of the cathedral's construction, with its beautiful wooden models that can be visited, sketches of the facades from different centuries, sculptures and more. The queue for access and to get tickets is considerable. It is advisable to buy the ticket online one day in advance or go to the ticket office of the Duomo Museum.
2 Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore (tram or Missori metro station - Ticinese Molino delle Armi stop of tram line n° 3). A beautiful 4th century basilica, famous for its beautiful courtyard, with columns from the Roman age and the statue of the emperor Constantine.
3 San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore. Not to be missed! A splendid Renaissance church completely frescoed. Most of the paintings are the work of Bernardino Luini.
4 Church of Santa Maria presso San Satiro, Via Torino. Church known for the illusory perspective of the apse designed by Bramante.
5 Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio (full name: minor Roman basilica collegiate abbey provost of Sant'Ambrogio), Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, 29 (near the metro station of the same name on the M2 line). The church built with a poor material, has a gabled façade preceded by a quadriportico. The interior has three naves without a transept and three apses. The church was heavily hit by the Anglo-American bombings of 1943 which destroyed above all the external part of the portico, damaging the dome of the basilica, the mosaic behind the altar and other external parts of the church.
6 Basilica of Santa Eufemia, piazza Sant'Eufemia, 8. The building, externally in neo-Romanesque architecture, has a salient façade, preceded by a small portico with three round arches on marble columns. The internal walls of this present a rich mosaic decoration that recalls that of the mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna. The interior of the church, in neo-Gothic style, is made up of three distinct sections: the nineteenth-century forepart, the nave and the apse. Both the walls and the vaults are richly decorated with polychrome frescoes.
7 Basilica of San Nazaro Maggiore In Brolo, piazza San Nazaro in Brolo, 5. The basilica of San Nazaro in Brolo has a double façade, the main one, which overlooks the square of the same name, is made up of the severe mass of the facade of the Chapel Trivulzio covered by red bricks. The second elevation of the church consists of the head of the left transept, or a large apse. Inside the church is the Last Supper by Bernardino Lanino.
8 Basilica of Santo Stefano Maggiore, piazza Santo Stefano, 12. The church was the scene of numerous historical events such as the assassination of Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza on 26 December 1476 and the baptism of Michelangelo Merisi, a Lombard painter better known as Caravaggio, the September 30, 1571.
9 Basilica of San Babila, piazza San Babila, 5 (90 m from the homonymous metro station). Virtually nothing remains of the original building. The current building, in fact, is the result of significant architectural transformations carried out over time, especially between the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The facade of the basilica, recomposed in neo-Romanesque style, is of the salient type. In the central lunette is depicted, on a golden background, Christ blessing with the book of the Gospels. The central portal is surmounted by a large three-mullioned window with sculpted capitals.
10 Church of San Bernardino alle Monache, via Lanzone, 7-13. Built around 1450 in red brick, the church is all that remains of the large fourteenth-century monastery of Santa Maria di Cantalupo, suppressed in 1782 by the Napoleonic laws.
11 Church of Sant'Alessandro In Zebedia, piazza Sant'Alessandro, 6. The facade, decorated with bas-reliefs, according to the initial Renaissance model, is flanked by two bell towers. The structure with two bell towers is considered one of the most illustrious antecedents of the famous Borrominian façade of Sant'Agnese in Agone in Piazza Navona in Rome. The pictorial works that decorate the rich Baroque interior are a beautiful gallery of Lombard art from the 16th-18th century, with canvases by Camillo Procaccini and Daniele Crespi.
12 Church of San Bernardino Alle Ossa, via Brolo, 1. Characteristic church for the ossuary, with a vault frescoed in 1695 by Sebastiano Ricci (Triumph of souls in a flight of angels and, in the spandrels of the vault, the glory of the four saints protectors, Saint Mary the Virgin, Saint Ambrose, Saint Sebastian and Saint Bernardino of Siena). The internal walls of the building, with a square plan, are almost entirely covered with skulls and bones that were found in the ancient ossuary, together with those that were exhumed in the cemeteries suppressed after the closure of the local hospital. All the bones were arranged in the niches, on the ledge, adorning the pillars, adorning the doors. In this decorative motif, the sense of macabre blends properly with the grace of the rococo.
13 Church of San Gottardo in Corte, via Francesco Pecorari, 5. can be visited with one of the combined tickets for the Duomo. Commissioned by Duke Galeazzo Visconti, the church was designed by the architect Francesco Pecorari from Cremona and built between 1330 and 1336. The octagonal bell tower is characteristic, in terracotta on a quadrangular stone base which translates Tuscan and Giotto inspirations into the Lombard architectural language of the XIV century. Inside there is a beautiful 14th century fresco.
14 Church of San Carlo Al Corso, piazza San Carlo, 1. In neoclassical style, the current church was built to replace the previous medieval church of Santa Maria dei Servi inspired by the Pantheon in Rome and the colonnade of Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples .
15 Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, Piazza del Carmine. The church was built in 1880 in a rich neo-Gothic style by Carlo Maciachini, famous for having designed the Monumental Cemetery of Milan. The facade is salient. Above the central portal, decorated with a mosaic lunette with the Madonna enthroned between San Simone Stock and an angel, there is the large rose window decorated with a richly sculpted sunburst.
16 Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, via Sant'Antonio, 5. The gabled façade is an unfinished work by Giuseppe Tazzini. The interior of the church has a Latin cross layout, with a single nave having three chapels on each side, with a shallow transept and a rectangular apse. Of notable interest are the frescoes on the vaults made in 1631 by Giovanni Carlone and Giovanni Battista Carlone.
17 Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Via Giuseppe Antonio Sassi, 3, ☎ +39 02 467 6111. Tourist visits: Mon-Sat 10am-12.55pm and 3pm-5.55pm; Sun and holidays 15:30-17:55.

 

Museums

18 Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Piazza Pio XI, 2, fax: +39 02 80692 210, info@ambrosiana.it. Historical library which also houses the Ambrosiana art gallery with treasures such as Leonardo's Codex Atlanticus.
19 Civic Archaeological Museum, Corso Magenta 15. Roman antiquities from Milan and its surroundings.
20 Pinacoteca di Brera, Via Brera (By metro: MM2 Lanza-Piccolo Teatro station, MM3 Montenapoleone station; or by tram lines 1, 4, 8, 12, 14, 27; or by bus lines 61, 97), ☎ +39 02 72263 1. One of the most important collections of works of art in Italy. the museum was founded by Maria Theresa of Austria in 1776, but grew in importance after Napoleon's Italian campaign in 1796. Bonaparte in fact suppressed numerous churches and religious buildings and decided to move the works of art preserved in them. The best were taken to Paris (after Napoleon's exile some returned to Italy thanks to Pope Pius VII and Antonio Canova), others were kept in various cities. The intent was to create a path in Brera that followed the development of art in Italy. In the art gallery there are world-famous works such as The Kiss by Hayez, the Dead Christ by Mantegna, Cenna di Emmaus by Caravaggio and the Pietà by Bellini.
21 La Scala Theater Museum, Via Filodrammatici 2 (Metro MM1 or MM3, Duomo station). A private museum institution, it is housed in the Casino Ricordi, near the Teatro alla Scala. It preserves a rich collection of costumes, scenographic sketches, letters from composers, portraits, musical autographs and ancient musical instruments.
22 Palazzo Reale (In front of the south façade of the Duomo; metro: MM1 and MM3 Duomo station). Built in the neoclassical period on a project by Pier Marini, the same architect of the Teatro alla Scale, it was built on the previous Palazzo Gonzaga (demolished in conjunction with the construction of the cathedral). Exhibitions are periodically organized inside the palace which bring together works from all over the world.
23 Bagatti Valsecchi Museum, Via Gesù 5 (Between via della Spiga and via Montenapoleone; metro MM3 Montenapoleone station, MM1 San Babila station, tram lines 1 and 2 Montenapoleone stop). A late 19th-century aristocratic residence with Renaissance collections of Italian art.
24 Poldi Pezzoli Museum, Via Manzoni (MM3 metro station Montenapoleone, or with many other buses and trams). One of the richest private art collections in the world.
25 Museo Del 900 - Palazzo Dell'Arengario, Via Guglielmo Marconi, 1, ☎ +39 02 88444061. Probably the most famous work contained in the museum is Il Quarto Stato by Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo, often confused with the Fiumana contained in the art gallery of Brera. Also important are the room dedicated to Fontana and his "cut" canvases and the interactive path with LEDs and optical illusions (not recommended for people suffering from epileptic seizures and forbidden for unaccompanied minors). The museum also houses the works of numerous Italian and world artists of the twentieth century such as Picasso, Morandi, Boccioni ("Unique forms of continuity in space", famous for being reproduced on the back of Italian 20 cents).
26 Museo del Duomo, Piazza Duomo 12, ☎ +39 02 72022656 (direction), +39 02 860358 (headquarters of the museum), museo@duomomilano.it. The ticket also entitles you to enter the Church of San Gottardo. Full price: €3.00 (Jun 2019). Tuesday-Sunday: 10.00 -18.00. Last ticket 4.50pm. Retracing the history of the symbolic building of Milan: this is the objective of the Museum of Milan which preserves the architectural projects and models created during the planning of the sacred building as well as many sculptures of the interior and exterior. The museum also preserves paintings, stained glass windows and tapestries which have been exhibited inside the cathedral over the years.
27 Gallerie d'Italia - Piazza Scala (Gd'I - from Canova to Boccioni), Piazza Scala 6, ☎ 800167619, info@gallerieditalia.com. €10 full, €8 reduced and free every first Sunday of the month. From Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30 to 19.30 (last admission 18.30), Thursday from 9.30 to 22.30 (last admission 21.30). The museum preserves works by the main Italian artists active in the 19th and 20th centuries. Among the main works we find many bas-relief plaster casts by Antonio Canova such as The dance of the children of Alcinoo. The sections dedicated to Milan are especially interesting for seeing the development of the city: The image of Milan in the view and perspective painting. The Duomo (rooms 10 and 11) and The image of Milan. The popular charm of the Navigli.
28 Casa Manzoni, Via Gerolamo Morone, 1. free. Museum: Friday weekdays from 9 to 16, library open from 9 to 12 and from 14 to 16.
29 Palazzo Moriggia - Museo del Risorgimento, via Borgonuovo, 23. In the eighteenth-century Palazzo Moriggia, the museum of the Risorgimento illustrates a 74-year period of Italian history between 1796 (Napoleon Bonaparte's first campaign in Italy) and 1870 (annexation of Rome to the Kingdom of Italy). The Museum of the Risorgimento collects works of art, relics, paintings, prints, weapons and objects that recall the wars of independence, the Five Days of Milan in 1848 and the Garibaldian epic.
30 Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, piazza Pio XI, 2. In the Pinacoteca today you can find works from the collection of Federico Borromeo and from numerous subsequent bequests, including paintings by Leonardo, Botticelli, Bramantino, Titian, Caravaggio, and Francesco Hayez.

 

Streets

31 Via Dante. One of the largest and busiest high fashion streets in Milan. Via Dante, named after the well-known Florentine poet, is a beautiful and pleasant pedestrian street that goes from the teeming Piazzale Cordusio to Largo Cairoli, right in front of the city's castle. With lots of street vendors, restaurants and café tables, with often, buskers, trendy boutiques and often packed with people. Ideal for those who want to reach the Castello Sforzesco, but who also want to do some high-quality shopping, observing some glorious Milanese palaces, and possibly sipping a coffee in one of the many open-air bars. It also contains the Piccolo Teatro, a renowned local theatre. At times, especially Christmas and some of the holidays it is packed with locals, customers and tourists and can get stuffy.
32 Corso Vittorio Emanuele II (Near the Duomo; Duomo or San Babila metro station). One of the most popular commercial thoroughfares in the city. It has a very modern and elegant feel to it, but it also has some large, well-preserved 17th/19th century buildings, including a neoclassical church. The Corso contains some large retail shops, including large shopping centres, trendy and youth shops, sporty design boutiques. It is pedestrian.
33 Via Manzoni (Metro station Montenapoleone or by tram). Impressive refined-looking street lined with noble apartment blocks and opulent churches. It also houses the Poldi Pezzoldi museum. Today, it is also one of the city's most important shopping streets, and is notable for containing the Armani Megastore. Very close to the Teatro alla Scala.
34 Via della Spiga (a few steps from the MM1 San Babila metro station). Beautiful classy street all paved, with some beautiful old buildings. The street and its surroundings are famous for being the center of high fashion shopping, where almost all luxury brands can be found there.
35 Via Montenapoleone (Metro station of Montenapoleone or San Babila). The city street for high fashion shopping. It contains many of the biggest names in fashion, and some of the most famous designer and trend brands in the world. Today, although it contains mostly fashion boutiques, there are also a few jewelery shops and cafés dotted around.

 

Squares

36 Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Metro Station). The city's largest square, Piazza del Duomo, is the cultural and social heart of Milan, and contains some of its most famous sights. Of course, the majestic cathedral and the Gallery are there, but there is also the Royal Palace, a beautiful 18th century building, which is currently an art exhibition center, as well as old, large and austere buildings. The street, with its big lights, the huge statue of King Victor, the imposing buildings, and the dark pavement makes one feel at first glance almost crushed by the excessively majestic context, but with its beautiful cafes, restaurants and high-class shops, a constant flow of pigeons and the presence of people, make it an extremely fascinating and interesting place. Since a lot of main roads and attractions are or are routed from this place, you really can't miss it.
37 Piazza Mercanti (Cathedral or Cordusio metro station). A really lovely and small medieval square. Hidden by the big buildings in the central part of Milan. Here, in Piazza Mercanti you can find some beautiful Gothic and Renaissance arcaded houses and a well right in the middle. During the Christmas period, it is filled with markets of typical products, including succulent panettone, sweets, candies and souvenirs.
38 Piazzale Cordusio (Cordusio metro station or, a little further away, the Duomo). Very busy central square of Milan, right next to the Duomo. It boasts a grand and beautiful late 19th century architecture. Once, and partly still today, it was an economic center of the city, with the headquarters of various companies, large banks and post offices.
39 Piazza Belgiojoso (Metro station Montenapoleone). A small but very suggestive square, which houses the magnificent neoclassical Palazzo Belgiojoso, built by Milanese nobles at the end of the 1700s, and the Casa del Manzoni, where the well-known Italian writer and scholar Alessandro Manzoni lived, and which today houses a library and the National Center for Manzonian Studies.
40 Piazza Della Scala. The place where the statue of Leonardo da Vinci and the Teatro alla Scala are located. It is a small but large square lined with beautiful buildings, such as the town hall and the commercial bank. Great place for a souvenir photo and right next to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. The ticket office is in the underpass of the Duomo underground stop.
41 Piazza San Babila (Reachable from via Montenapoleone, Corso Vittorio Emanuele or Corso di Porta Venezia. To visit it, stop at the San Babila metro station and exit directly in the middle of the square). Bustling modern square just north of the cathedral and close to the city's fashion district. Architecturally, the buildings on Piazza San Babila are virtually all 1930s Art-Deco office blocks, but with a hip, cosmopolitan air. While very modern, it boasts a view of a pretty little Romanesque church that sits away in the shade from the huge skyscrapers. Piazza San Babila contains numerous banks, post offices, fast-food restaurants and today also some funky designed shops. It's a great place to go, because it connects the Montenapoleone shopping area, with the more central area of the Duomo.
42 Piazza del Liberty (Metro station Duomo or, a little further away, San Babila). Small square, which, however, is distinguished by a splendid Art Nouveau building today the Hotel del Corso, but once known as the Trianon. It can be reached just outside a small opening, at the beginning of Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
43 Piazza Degli Affari, Piazza degli Affari (Line M1 (Milan Metro) Cordusio). Symbol not only of the Milanese economy but also of Italian financial activities, the square is mainly known for the presence of the Milan Stock Exchange, seat of the national financial market, established here on 16 January 1808. In Roman times where the current Piazza is located degli Affari was a theater.

 

Historical monuments

44 Castello Sforzesco (MM1 Cairoli-castle metro station). A large medieval castle with a grass-covered courtyard, where the ruling families of Milan resided: the Sforza-Visconti. Later it was the residence of the Austrian governor, when Lombardy was part of the Habsburg empire. Almost entirely redone in the historicist style by Luca Beltrami between 1891 and 1905, it now houses several museums, including museums of applied arts, ancient art, historical musical instruments, prehistory, Egyptian art and fine arts.
45 Old Hospital. A Renaissance complex that now serves the university.
46 Pusterla Di Sant'ambrogio, piazza Sant'Ambrogio, 16. The structure is one of the minor gates (or pusterle) located on the medieval layout of the walls of Milan. The still existing one was erected by Gino Chierici in 1939 in imitation of the ancient one, of which only the ruins remained.

 

Buildings

47 Ca' De Sass, via Gian Domenico Romagnosi, 5. In an eclectic style, with heavy neo-Renaissance influences, the building is today the headquarters of Banca Intesa Sanpaolo. In designing the structure, the architect, Giuseppe Balzaretto, was inspired by Florentine Renaissance buildings such as Palazzo Strozzi.
48 Casa Degli Omenoni, via degli Omenoni, 2. The building was built around 1565 by the Arezzo sculptor and engraver Leone Leoni and used as the artist's private residence. The building became a house-museum and housed numerous works of art, unfortunately no longer present today. The facade is made up of two orders and an attic, from a later period, and is divided vertically into seven compartments. On the ground floor they are distributed by the eight colossal stone telamons (male sculptures), representing defeated barbarians inspired by the statuary of classical Rome.
49 Palazzo Della Ragione, piazza dei Mercanti, 5. After being used as a broletto, town hall, in 1773 the building became the archive of notarial deeds. During the reign of the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, due to increased space requirements, it was completely renovated by the architect Francesco Croce, who raised the building by creating large oval windows and reduced it to the neoclassical style. In 1854, according to a project by the architect Enrico Terzaghi, the ground floor portico was closed with glass windows supported by cast iron trellises and the ceiling was then replaced by vaulted arches.
50 Casa Dei Panigarola, piazza dei Mercanti, 5. The building, which closes the fourth side of Piazza dei Mercanti, was used as the Office of the Statutes, or as the place where the ducal decrees were registered. The name of the building derives from the family who managed the office until 1741. The building still appears today as a building with squat pointed arches with terracotta foliage frames. The facade, which covers a pre-existing structure, was designed by Giovanni Solari in 1466, to be arranged in 1899 by Luca Beltrami, to whom we owe the addition of the single lancet window on the upper floor. The left side of the building currently houses a restaurant, the right side instead a loggia (usually closed by a gate) which allows access, via an internal staircase, to the suspended ramp which leads to the entrance to the Palazzo della Ragione.
51 Loggia Degli Osii, Piazza dei Mercanti, 5. The building, designed by Scoto da San Gimignano, was built in 1316 by order of Matteo Visconti who wanted to create a system of porticoes around the Palazzo della Ragione in which to compose the legal notary activities of the city. From the Loggia degli Osii the magistrates announced edicts and sentences to the citizens, looking out from the small balcony (called "parlera"), decorated with an eagle clutching a prey, symbol of justice.
52 Palazzo Delle Scuole Palatine, piazza dei Mercanti, 5. In 1644 a fire destroyed the building and the gate of the Orefici; the municipality of Milan provided for the reconstruction of the building according to the most prestigious model, that of the Palazzo dei Giureconsulti, commissioning the architect Carlo Buzzi. The building consists of two floors. On the ground floor, four arches of paired Tuscan columns on pedestals form the access to the raised portico via the six steps from the pavement level. In the middle of the facade of the building there is a niche with the statue of Sant'Agostino, which he allegedly taught in the Palatine schools, created by the sculptor Pietro Lasagna. Towards the square stands the marble statue of the poet Decimo Magno Ausonio with two white marble tombstones at the sides.
53 Palazzo Dei Giureconsulti, piazza dei Mercanti, 2. The palace, built in 1562, was built on the site of the notaries' palace, incorporating the Tower of Napo Torriani, which became the civic tower. The palace was damaged during the bombings of the Second World War.
54 Palazzo Marino, Piazza della Scala, 2 (in front of the Alla Scala theatre). The work of the Perugian architect Galeazzo Alessi, it is a noble palace in Milan, seat of the municipal administration since 19 September 1861. The building appears today in the forms of the restoration completed by Luca Beltrami in 1892.
55 Palazzo Litta, corso Magenta, 24. The building is considered one of the most important examples of Milanese Baroque architecture. The facade is characterized by an advanced central body, three floors high, divided by six pilasters, of the Corinthian order, in five bays. The central portal is covered by a balcony. Among the large halls of the internal environments, the most characteristic is certainly the Hall of Mirrors.
56 Palazzo Clerici, Via Clerici, 5. Ancient residence of the rich and influential Milanese patrician family of the Clericis, in the eighteenth century the ancient manor house was completely modified by the Marquis Anton Giorgio Clerici (1715-1768) who made it one of the residences most opulent in Milan at the time, with the creation of the famous Gallery of Tapestries frescoed on the vault by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in 1741.
57 Palazzo Morando Attendolo Bolognini, via Sant'Andrea, 6. Inside the eighteenth-century building there are two exhibition itineraries: on the first floor, an art gallery that bears witness to the evolution of Milan between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries and numerous rooms rearranged following the eighteenth-century tastes.
58 Palazzo Belgioioso D'Este, piazza Belgioioso, 2. Work by Giuseppe Piermarini, begun in 1772 and completed in 1787, for Prince Alberico XII of Belgioioso d'Este, it is one of the most representative examples, together with the Teatro alla Scala, of neoclassical architecture in Milan.
59 Palazzo Mezzanotte (Palazzo della Borsa), piazza degli Affari, 6. Designed in 1927 by the architect Paolo Mezzanotte, it houses all the activities of the Italian Stock Exchange.
60 Palazzo Annoni, corso di Porta Romana, 6. The building was built starting from 1631, at the behest of Paolo Annoni, a wealthy silk merchant of the time, based on a project by Francesco Maria Richini.
61 Palazzo Durini, via Durini, 24. Today the seat of the Alessandro Durini Foundation is and was the residence of the Counts of Monza.
62 Palazzo Borromeo, piazza Borromeo, 12. The construction of the palace dates back to the end of the 13th century, at the behest of the Borromeo family, a family of Florentine origin who, after moving to Milan, became one of the most important and influential in the city. The palace has a late-Gothic layout, however the work as a whole suffers from numerous alterations over the years, mainly due to the bombings that the city suffered during the Second World War. The facade is in exposed brick and is centered on the portal in which ashlars of white Candoglia marble and red Verona marble alternate, crowned by an archivolt with vine shoots and oak leaves carved in stone.

 

Other

63 Teatro Alla Scala, piazza della Scala, 6. Probably the most famous opera house in the world, it owes its name to the pre-existing church of Santa Maria alla Scala. The theater was built by Piermarini, a pupil of Vanvitelli, and features a projecting portico, initially used to allow the arrival of the nobles in carriages. The theater is horseshoe-shaped with four tiers of boxes and two balconies. Inside there are also two foyers. From 2002 to 2004 the theater was restored by the architect Botta, who modified part of the scene (the curtain is no longer cascading) and added a cylindrical body to the left of the theatre.
64 Braidense National Library. A library founded in 1770 by the Austrian governor. Since then it has acquired other historical collections and the RAI archives. She is very active in organizing seminars and debates on new media and new technologies.
65 Torre Velasca (Misori or Crocetta metro station). A tall, huge, castle-style skyscraper built in 1950, and one of the first in Italy. Gorgeous modern architecture. Unfortunately it is not possible to go up to it, since it is a private building.
66 Brera - District, via Brera. In the district there are, among others, the Pinacoteca di Brera, the Academy of Fine Arts, the National Braidense Library and the modern art gallery Il Castello.
67 Colonna del Verziere, Largo Augusto, 3. Mannerist-Baroque monument consisting of an elaborate Baveno granite column surmounted by a statue of Christ. It takes its name from the "Verziere" or "Verzée", the ancient fruit and vegetable market that was based around the place where it stands.
68 Columns of San Lorenzo, corso di Porta Ticinese, 22-36. ancient medieval building built with materials from the Roman era and located in front of the basilica of the same name near the medieval Porta Ticinese. They represent one of the rare surviving finds of imperial Milan.
69 Chiostri del Bramante, Largo Fra Agostino Gemelli, 1. Commissioned by Ludovico Sforza, the two cloisters, one Doric and the other Ionic, are located inside the Catholic university.

 

What to do

Panoramic view from the Cathedral. If you want to see Milan from above, take the stairs or the lift up to the roof of the Duomo. The stunning panoramic view of the city between the cathedral spiers and statues is truly a great experience.

 

Shopping

Clothes

1 Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (Metro station Duomo). The mother of all malls: high-end shopping in a stunning 19th-century mall building, with a gorgeous mosaic floor, and a gorgeous glass-roofed dome. It contains shops such as Louis Vuitton and Prada, a McDonald's, Bernasconi a silverware and luxury items shop that recently moved to its new prestigious headquarters in via Manzoni 44, some places to eat such as Zucca in Galleria, Biffi or Gucci café and much more such as galleries of art, fashion boutiques, bookshops and restaurants. During the Christmas season, it transforms into a charming place, with beautiful lights and glittering decorations. For cheap Milanese food, go to Luini for a panzerotto on nearby via San Radegonda.
2 Armani Megastore, Via Manzoni 31 (Metro station Montenapoleone), ☎ +39 02 7231 8630. Giorgio Armani flagship store. Covering over 8,000 square meters of outlets for its high fashion creations, the Emporio Armani and Armani Jeans lines, plus the new Armani Casa which has a selection of home furnishings as well as flower, book and art shops ; a Sony electronics center in the basement and an Emporio Café and New York branch of Nobu sushi bar.
3 Abercrombie & Fitch, 12 Corso Giacomo Matteotti (Metro station San Babila). Opened in October 2009, this is one of the most popular flagship stores in Milan, the first in the world to host Abercrombie kids and A&F together in a single store. It is a large department store, with three floors, and occupies just over 30,000 square meters. Right near the heart of the high-end shopping district of Milan and a few steps from via Monte Napoleone and the other streets of the fashion district.
4 Dolce and Gabbana, Via della Spiga no. 2 (Metro station San Babila), ☎ +39 02 7600 1155. Design and high-class shop dedicated to women's clothing.
5 Gucci Flagship, Via Montenapoleone, 5-7 (Metro station San Babila (also Montenapoleone)), ☏ +39 02 771 271 . This is the city's flagship Gucci store, opened in 2002, which has haute couture clothing and accessories ( high fashion). There are also a few other Gucci stores in Milan, including the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, and also at Malpensa airport.
6 Prada, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, 63 (Metro station Duomo). One of several Prada boutiques in the city, the one in the Galleria is closest to the Duomo and the central square. They sell a wide range of high-fashion items, such as shoes, perfumes, bags, accessories, both classic and modern, in a multi-story shop full of chandeliers (much bigger than it looks from the outside).
7 Krizia, Via Sant' Andrea, no. 15 (Metro station San Babila). Popular since the 1960s, Krizia is a hip boutique with funky clothes and trendy designs. Located in the heart of the high fashion shopping district.
8 Etro, Via Montenapoleone 5 (Metro station Montenapoleone), ☎ +39 02 7600 5450. Boutique with high-end men's and women's lines from the Etro brand.
9 Ermenegildo Zegna, Via Pietro Verri 3 (Metro station Montenapoleone or San Babila), ☎ +39 02 7600 6437. Elegant luxury boutique, with pre-packaged men's suits that look tailor-made.
10 La Rinascente, Piazza Duomo (Metro station Duomo), ☎ +39 02 88521. Mon-Thu 9:30-21:00; Fri-Sat 9:30-22:00; Sun 10am-9pm. A department store in Milan, right in the city centre, close to the Duomo, the Galleria and the chic shopping area (Montenapoleone). Here you can find designer household items and appliances, but also men's, women's and children's clothing, jewels, accessories, cosmetics, watches, perfumes, eyewear, socks, underwear, lingerie, gifts, table decorations. Inside there are other shops such as: hairdresser, restaurant, sushi bar, food market, chocolate shop, wine shop and more. A good place to do all kinds of shopping in a very central location and then stop for a drink, snack or meal at a cafe or restaurant.
11 D Magazine, Via Montenapoleone 26 (Metro station Montenapoleone or San Babila), ☎ +39 02 7600 6027. Located in Milan in one of the most exclusive shopping streets in the world. D Magazine is an outlet where you can find lots of designer clothes from names like Giorgio Armani, Prada or Fendi.
12 Basement, Via Senato, 15 (Metro station Montenapoleone, then to reach it, you have to go to the parking lot in via Senato 15, go down a staircase, go right and then see a purple sign). This little hidden outlet called Basement cannot be seen from the street above. It contains loads of designer clothes, including those from Moschino, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent, D&G and La Perla, all with huge discounts.

 

Food

13 Peck, Via Victor Hugo 4, ☎ +39 02 861 040. Food lovers in the Duomo area should not miss this place. It's the Dean and Deluca of Milan, a wonderful grocery store with high quality delicacies. Prices are steep, but since everything is counter service, you can sample a wide range of delicacies to suit your budget. Speaking of counter service, there's a special way to buy things at Peck. First, you order from the attendant who will give you a receipt. Once you've collected all your receipts, you pay at one of the checkouts, then return to each employee you've visited, where the staff will have already wrapped your purchases. edit

 

How to have fun

1 Exploit Café, Via Poppette 3 (near the Colonne di San Lorenzo, in Viale Porta Ticinese). If you want to visit a real Italian-style bar, this one is definitely worth it.
2 Bar Magenta, Via Carducci 13. This popular bar can be visited with a group of friends during the aperitivo, where free appetizers are served around 7pm. Bar Magenta is said to have coined the now hugely popular 'aperitif' and having a drink here is a classic experience.
3 Caffè Cova, Via Montenapoleone 8 (Metro stops San Babila and Montenapoleone), ☏ +39 02-7600-5599. Founded in 1817, the pastry shop moved to its current location, the exclusive Via Montenapoleone, in 1950, and is a good place for a cake or tart with a hot drink, such as coffee. At Christmas you can enjoy the traditional panettone.
4 Emporio Armani Café, Via Croce Rossa, no. 2 (Metro, Montenapoleone station). On the ground floor of the Armani Megastore, this café is all about Armani. A good place to stop for a drink after a day of shopping, since it is very close to the luxurious via Manzoni and via Monte Napoleone.
5 Dolce & Gabbana Martini Bar, Corso Venezia, no. 15 (Metro station San Babila). A Dolce & Gabbana themed bar, located in the elegant Corso Venezia, right in the high fashion district. A good place to enjoy a martini after some shopping or sightseeing.
6 Pumpkin, Piazza Duomo, no. 21 (Metro station Duomo). An Art Deco/Liberty style bar right at the entrance of the Galleria Vittorio, serving different types of drinks. Right in the heart of all the main attractions, being next to the Duomo and the Galleria and also close to the shopping district of via Montenapoleone and the Castello district.
7 Bar Jamaica, Via Brera, no. 32 (Metro station Lanza), ☎ +39 02-876723. A small, trendy and artistic bar in the bohemian Brera district, which in the summer uses its veranda for al fresco drinks.
8 Shu, Via Molino delle Armi (Metro station Missori). A trendy café in the funky Porta Ticinese area, serving cocktails, and also a remarkable happy hour with a great variety of dishes.
9 Gucci café, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (Metro station Duomo). If you like bars where you can sip on a trendy coffee in the city, in the transparent glass of the Galleria, right in the heart of Milan, after some sightseeing or shopping in general, the Gucci café is the place to go.
10 Café Trussardi, Piazza della Scala, 5 (Metro stations Duomo, Cordusio or Montenapoleone), ☎ +39 02 8068 8295. Prices from €10 to €28. Mon-Fri 07:30-22:00; Sat 12:00-22:00; Sun closed. Located very close to the Trussardi Alla Scala restaurant. Coffee is preferable for a drink or a more less formal meal. The menu includes some salads, sandwiches, meat, fish, cheese and vegetable dishes and many other dishes, but also fresh fruit juices and desserts such as trifle, tiramisu and ice cream. Right in the center of the city, it is close to the famous Teatro alla Scala, the Duomo, the Castello Sforzesco, and also in the square Quadrilatero della moda (eg Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, etc.). Owned by famous fashion brand.
11 Hotel Straf, Via San Raffaele 33 (Near the Cathedral). Gay club that offers an aperitif every Thursday.

 

Shows

12 Teatro alla Scala, Via Filodrammatici 2 (Reachable by underground: MM1 and MM3 Duomo station), ☎ +39 02 88 79 1. One of the most renowned opera houses in the world. It first opened in 1778 and then reopened in 2004 after an extensive renovation. It has seen performances by the likes of Maria Callas and Pavarotti. As Italy is the homeland of opera, Teatro alla Scala is one of the best places for one to be introduced to the world of Italian opera. Classical music also finds its place at La Scala.
13 Teatro dal Verme, Via San Giovanni sul Muro, 2, dalverme@dalverme.org. Classic music.
14 Piccolo Teatro - Grassi, via Rovello, 2.
15 Canobbiana Theater (Lyric Theatre), via Larga, 14.
16 Teatro Dei Filodrammatici, via Filodrammatici, 1.
17 Blue Note Milano, Via Pietro Borsieri, 37, ☎ +39 02 6901 6888. Italian branch of a famous New York club where jazz and blues are played. Guaranteed fun and a busy calendar of appointments.
18 Volt, Via Molino delle Armi, 16.
19 Superlove Club, Corso di Porta Ticinese, 32.
20 Vetra - Cocktail, Beer & Wine bar, Piazza Vetra, 21.

 

Where to eat

Modest prices
1 Autogrill. The Italian fast food chain can be found in several locations around the city. The one in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, next to Piazza Duomo is a place to eat a cheap piece of pizza with a view of the Duomo. It can get quite busy at lunchtime and in the evening.
2 Spizzico and Burger King (In the same building as the Autogrill, in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.).
3 Brek (Piazza San Babila). The city also has an excellent cafe called Brek with several locations throughout Milan, including one near Piazza San Babila. The food is very good, the prices are fair, so it's a good place to stop for a quick snack.
4 Luini (Panzerotti), Via Santa Radegonda 16 (to the right of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele), ☎ +39 02 86461917, info@luini.it. Mon: 10am-3pm, Tue-Sat: 10am-8pm. In this oven you can buy delicious panzerotti, both classic, fried and baked. Long queues often form.
5 Pizzeria Spontini (The pizzeria is present in many locations in the center of Milan). Like Luini, Spontini is a Milanese take-away pizzeria chain, with very good pizzas. Long queues often form.

Average prices
6 Biffi, Passaio Duomo, 2 (Metro station Duomo, in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II), ☎ +39 02 8057 961. Mon-Sun 12:00-24:00, breakfast at 07:30. Opened in 1867, it's an old-fashioned café/restaurant in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, surrounded by a plethora of interesting shops. It serves drinks and foods such as spaghetti, veal, steaks, fish and desserts such as chocolate Sacher, tiramisu, ice cream and fruit salads. Waiters serve in formal white gloves.
7 CioccolatItaliani, Via San Raffaele 6, ☎ +39 02 89093820. In the ice cream parlor you can taste excellent homemade ice cream. It is important to bear in mind that each employee serves an average cone/ice cream every minute, so the waiting time could be long.
8 Meal - Pasta workshop with kitchen, Via Zecca Vecchia, 4. In this informal restaurant, pasta is prepared with excellent sauces. An excellent solution for lunch.
9 La Tartina, Via S. Carpoforo, 4. Bar and restaurant with tapas.
10 Seafood Sandwiches Milano Isola, Via Garigliano, 8. Sandwiches with fish. Rather refined restaurant in style, possibility to eat outside.
11 Il Rugantino, via Fabio dei Fabbri, 1.
Shu restaurant.
12 San Lorenzo Bistrot, via Pio IV, 1.
13 Marea Seafood, Via Papa Gregorio XIV.
14 Yspanico, Via Celestino IV, 12.
15 May Pusterla, via Edmondo de Amicis, 22.

High prices
16 Armani/Nobu, Via Pisoni 1 (Metro station Montenapoleone. Also accessible by tram), ☎ +39 02 6231 2645. Lunch 12pm-2.30pm, dinner 6.30pm-9.30pm. Part of Japanese restaurant chain serving South American-influenced sushi in an Armani-themed setting. Besides sushi, they serve dishes like ceviche, spicy tuna, different soups, lobster, seaweed, salmon, or different forms of vegetables and meats (and many more) are on the menu. You can find desserts such as carrot cakes, ice cream teas, chocolates, exotic fruits and other European or oriental dishes. They serve both sake and champagne.
17 Boeucc, Piazza Belgioioso 2, ☎ +39 02 7602 0224. The oldest restaurant in Milan that still serves traditional homemade cuisine; fresh and tasty like the first day. Great for a special occasion. The dessert is served on a particular trolley where they are shown to you before you order them; hard to leave without eating one! Keep in mind that desserts are as beautiful as they are expensive, so choose carefully.
18 The Trussardi Alla Scala Restaurant, Piazza della Scala 5 (Metro station Duomo or Cordusio or even Montenapoelone. Very close to the Café Trussardi), ☏ +39 02 8068 8201. Lunch: Mon-Fri 12.30-2.00pm; Dinner Mon-Sat 8pm-10.30pm. A restaurant awarded with 2 Michelin stars near the famous La Scala theater, themed and owned by the famous Italian fashion house. Trussardi Alla Scala has large, modern interiors, and serves a variety of interesting dishes.
19 Savini, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (Metro: Duomo), ☎ +39 02 7200 3433. Opened in 1867, the Savini is a well-established trendy restaurant within the magnificent Galleria, serving dishes such as Milanese risotto, spaghetti and ravioli, meat cutlet, lamb and beef, fish, tiramisu and other desserts including chocolate cake and strawberry tart.
20 Cracco, Via Victor Hugo 4, ☎ +39 02 876774, fax: +39 02 861040, info@ristorantecracco.it. Lunch: Tue-Fri 12:30-14:30; Dinner: Mon-Sat 7.30pm-11pm. Chef's restaurant that has consolidated its fame with TV shows about cooking. The restaurant has been awarded two Michelin stars.
21 Tram restaurant ATMosfera (Departs from Piazza Castello). €65 per person. Mon-Sun "departure" at 8pm. The ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi) which manages public transport in Milan, has created a tram restaurant. A 1928 "Carrello" class tram has been transformed into a restaurant on rails and you can dine while admiring many of Milan's monuments.

 

Where stay

Modest prices
1 BONSAhi Palazzo Segreti, Via San Tomaso, 4, ☎ +39 345 2157603, fax: +39 055 7471297, concierge@bonsahi.com.

Average prices
2 Ambasciatori Hotel Milan, Galleria del Corso 3 (300 meters from the Duomo), ☎ +39 02 76020241, fax: +39 02 782700, booking@ambasciatorihotel.it. Single from €190, double from €260.
3 Hotel Galileo Milan, Corso Europa 9, ☎ +39 02 7743, fax: +39 02 76020584. Single €130, double €140; breakfast included. Four-star hotel, with 89 single, double, triple and VIP rooms, all with private bathroom. Among the common areas there are a bar, restaurant, lounge and reception with free internet connection.
4 Brunelleschi Hotel Milan, Via Baracchini, 12 (Near the Duomo and Teatro alla Scala), ☎ +39 02 88431, fax: +39 02 804924. From €100. The Hotel Brunelleschi Milano is a respectable 4-star hotel in the center of Milan.
5 Hotel Ascot, Via Lentasio, 3 (In the center of Milan, a few meters from Corso di Porta Romana and a 10-minute walk from the Duomo and the National University), ☎ +39 02 58303300, fax: +39 02 58303203. Single from €83, double from €124.
6 Hotel Genius Milan, Via Porlezza, 4 (Located between the Castello Sforzesco and the Duomo), ☎ +39 02 72094644, fax: +39 02 72006950. Single: 88/99€; double 120/155€. The Genius Hotel is a three-star hotel that has 38 rooms with private room service and wifi connection.
7 London Hotel, Via Rovello 3 (400 meters from the Duomo), ☎ +39 02 72020166, fax: +39 02 8057037, info@hotellondonmilano.com. Single €90/130, double €120/170.
8 Hotel Lloyd, Corso di Porta Romana, 48, ☎ +39 02 58303332, fax: +39 02 58303365. Singles from €85, doubles from €116. It offers large meeting rooms and a wellness programme. Local businesses, shopping and culture just a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
9 Hotel NH Machiavelli, Largo Augusto, 10, ☎ +39 02 631141, nhmachiavelli@nh-hotels.com. The four-star NH Machiavelli hotel is located in the center of Milan, near Porta Venezia and the Corso Buenos Aires shopping area. The central station is just a ten minute walk from the hotel. The location of the hotel is ideal for both business and leisure travellers, being easily accessible by car and public transport.
Hotel NH President, Largo Augusto, 10, ☎ +39 02 77461, nhpresident@nh-hotels.com. The NH President, a four-star hotel, is located in a strategic position in the center of Milan, a few steps from the Duomo and trendy shops. Comfortable and easily accessible, the hotel is ideal for both business travelers and those in Milan for pleasure. The NH President hotel is a few steps from the San Babila metro station and is close to the elegant via Montenapoleone, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Teatro alla Scala. Garage Sforza Discounted parking located under the hotel and accessible via a staircase inside the hotel.
10 Hotel dei Cavalieri Milan Cathedral.

High prices
11 Park Hyatt Milan, Via Tommaso Grossi 1 (Near Piazza del Duomo and Teatro alla Scala), ☎ +39 02 8821 1234, milano@hyattintl.com. 5-star hotel that houses La Cupola, a prominent restaurant on Milan's elite social scene.
12 Hotel De La Ville, Via Hoepli n.6 (near via Montenapoleone), ☎ +39 02 879 1311. €100/200. It has a panoramic swimming pool overlooking the Duomo.
13 Hotel Pierre Milan, Via de Amicis 32 (Near the Scala and the Duomo), ☎ +39 02 72000581. 105/215€. 5 star hotel. Each of the 52 rooms has wifi connection and satellite TV.
14 Ariston Hotel Milan, Largo Carrobbio, 2, ☎ +39 02 72000556, fax: +39 02 72000914. Single €160, double €230. 3-star hotel with 52 rooms (single, double and triple), private parking, wine bar, breakfast room and conference room that can accommodate up to 25 people. Among other services, the Hotel Ariston Milano also offers a private bathroom, satellite TV, free internet connection and a bicycle service, since the Ariston Hotel in Milan boasts of being an ecological accommodation.
15 Hotel King, Corso Magenta 19, ☎ +39 02 874432, fax: +39 02 89010798. 4-star hotel in the city centre, part of the Mokinba Hotels. Good location near the Duomo and the Milan well.
16 Antica Locanda dei Mercanti, Via San Tomaso 6, ☎ +39 02 8054080. Charming boutique hotel located in an ancient building in the heart of the city, with large double rooms, some of them with private terraces.
17 Hotel Four Seasons, via Gesù, 6/8, ☎ +39 027 7088, fax: +39 027 7085000. per Night: Double room 676,- €.
Grand Hotel Duomo, via San Raffaele, 1, ☎ +39 02 8833, fax: +39 02 86462027. per Night: Double room 640,- EUR.
18 Santa Marta Suites, Via Santa Marta, 4 (Zona Duomo), ☎ +39 02 45 37 33 69, fax: +39 02 45 37 33 69, info@santamartasuites.com. Check-in: 2.00pm, check-out: 11.00am. Charming boutique hotel with restaurant and panoramic terrace.
19 Palazzo Porta Romana (Luxury Residence), Corso di Porta Romana, 64.
20 Hotel The Square Milano Duomo, Via Alberico Albricci, 2-4.

 

How to keep in touch

Internet
The public Milanese Open WiFi Milan network has numerous connections in the historic centre.