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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
44. Castello Sforzesco (MM1 Cairoli-Castello metro station)
A vast
medieval fortress with a broad grass-covered courtyard that long served
as the power base of Milan’s ruling dynasties, first the Visconti and
then the Sforza. Francesco Sforza rebuilt and enlarged it in the
mid-15th century on the remains of an earlier Visconti stronghold
(Castello di Porta Giovia). Under Ludovico il Moro the complex reached
its artistic peak, with contributions from architects and artists
including Filarete and Leonardo da Vinci (whose painted pergola of
mulberry trees still survives in the Sala delle Asse).
Later it
became a Spanish citadel and then the residence of the Austrian governor
during Habsburg rule over Lombardy. By the 19th century the structure
was in poor condition and used as a barracks. Between 1891 and 1905 the
architect Luca Beltrami carried out a major historicist restoration that
largely returned the castle to its Renaissance appearance, including the
reconstruction of the tall Torre del Filarete that now forms the main
city-facing entrance.
Today the Castello Sforzesco houses a rich
group of civic museums under one ticket: the Museum of Ancient Art (with
medieval and Renaissance sculpture, armour, and the Pietà Rondanini by
Michelangelo in a dedicated space), the Pinacoteca, the Museum of
Musical Instruments, the Applied Arts collections, furniture and wooden
sculpture, prehistoric and Egyptian sections, and other specialised
holdings. The large outer courtyards are freely accessible and open onto
Parco Sempione.
45. Old Hospital (Ca’ Granda / Ospedale Maggiore)
A monumental Renaissance hospital complex founded in 1456 by Francesco
Sforza and Bianca Maria Visconti as a large public institution for the
poor (the “Spedale di Poveri” or “Magna Domus Hospitalis”). Designed
principally by the Florentine architect Antonio Averlino, known as
Filarete, it was conceived on an ambitious cruciform plan with long
wards, multiple courtyards, and advanced facilities for its time.
Construction continued for centuries with later contributions by
architects such as Guiniforte Solari, Giovanni Antonio Amadeo, and
Francesco Maria Richini.
Popularly called Ca’ Granda (“the big
house”) because of its enormous scale, the complex served as Milan’s
principal hospital for nearly five centuries. Heavily damaged by Allied
bombing in 1943, it was carefully restored after the war and transferred
to the University of Milan. Since the late 1950s it has been the main
seat of the Università degli Studi di Milano, preserving its Renaissance
courtyards, terracotta decoration, and monumental interiors while
functioning as an active university campus.
46. Pusterla di
Sant’Ambrogio, Piazza Sant’Ambrogio 16
One of the minor gates
(pusterle) that once pierced the medieval walls of Milan. The original
structure dated to the second half of the 12th century, built after the
city’s recovery from destruction by Frederick Barbarossa. Only ruins
survived into the modern era.
In 1939 the architect Gino Chierici
reconstructed the gate in faithful imitation of the medieval original,
reusing bricks and materials recovered from the old city walls and
towers. The present structure consists of two flanking towers linked by
a double-arched gateway of brick on a serizzo stone base. Above the
arches is a tabernacle containing 14th-century statues of saints
Ambrose, Gervase, and Protase.
Historically the gate is linked to the
dramatic events of 1385, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti lured his uncle
Bernabò Visconti out through this pusterla under the pretext of a
pilgrimage and seized power. Located a short distance from the Basilica
of Sant’Ambrogio, the reconstructed gate remains a distinctive fragment
of Milan’s medieval defensive system.
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.
63 Teatro alla Scala
Piazza della Scala, 6
Probably the most
famous opera house in the world, La Scala takes its name from the church
of Santa Maria alla Scala that once stood on the site. After the
previous Ducal Theatre burned down in 1776, the neoclassical architect
Giuseppe Piermarini (a pupil of Luigi Vanvitelli) designed the new
building, which opened in 1778 with Antonio Salieri’s Europa
riconosciuta.
The façade features a projecting portico that
originally allowed carriages to deposit noble spectators directly at the
entrance. Inside, the horseshoe-shaped auditorium has four tiers of
boxes and two galleries, creating an intimate yet grand atmosphere with
exceptional acoustics. Two elegant foyers complete the public spaces.
Between 2002 and 2004 the theatre underwent a major restoration directed
by Swiss architect Mario Botta. The stage machinery was completely
modernized (the traditional cascading curtain was replaced), and a
distinctive cylindrical volume was added to the left side of the
building, creating a striking dialogue between the historic neoclassical
core and contemporary architecture.
64 Braidense National Library
Via Brera 28 (inside the Brera complex)
Founded in 1770 under the
Austrian governor of Lombardy and opened to the public in 1786, the
Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense is one of Italy’s most important
historical libraries. Its core collection began with the library of
Count Carlo Pertusati and was later enriched by major scientific,
literary and historical holdings, including the precious Manzoni
collection and materials from the RAI archives.
Today the library
continues to grow while remaining highly active in cultural life,
regularly hosting seminars, debates and exhibitions focused on new
media, digital technologies and the future of reading and publishing.
65 Torre Velasca
Piazza Velasca (Misori or Crocetta metro stations)
This tall, castle-like skyscraper is one of Milan’s most distinctive
modern landmarks. Designed by the BBPR studio (Banfi, Belgiojoso,
Peressutti, Rogers) and completed in 1958, the 106-metre tower was among
the first true skyscrapers built in Italy after the war.
Its striking
“mushroom” silhouette - a narrower lower shaft supporting a wider
residential upper volume - deliberately evokes the medieval towers and
fortresses of Lombardy while remaining thoroughly modern in structure
and materials. Offices occupy the lower floors and apartments the
cantilevered upper section. Unfortunately the building is private, so it
is not possible to go up, but it remains a powerful and photogenic
presence in the city skyline.
66 Brera District
Via Brera and
surrounding streets
The elegant Brera neighbourhood is one of Milan’s
most atmospheric cultural quarters. Within a few blocks stand the
Pinacoteca di Brera (one of Italy’s greatest picture galleries), the
Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, the Braidense National Library, and
the modern art spaces of Palazzo Citterio. Quiet cobbled streets,
boutiques, cafés and restaurants make the area ideal for a leisurely
stroll after visiting the museums.
67 Colonna del Verziere
Largo
Augusto, 3
This elaborate Mannerist-Baroque monument consists of a
tall Baveno granite column crowned by a statue of Christ the Redeemer.
Construction began in the late 16th century as a votive offering after
the plague of 1576-77 and was finally completed in 1673.
The column
takes its name from the “Verziere” (or Verzée), the old
fruit-and-vegetable market that once occupied the surrounding area.
After Italian unification, bronze plaques listing the names of Milanese
who died during the Five Days of Milan (1848) were added to the base,
transforming the religious monument into a civic memorial as well.
68
Columns of San Lorenzo
Corso di Porta Ticinese, 22-36
Standing
directly in front of the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore, this row of
sixteen tall Corinthian columns is one of the rare surviving remnants of
imperial Milan (Mediolanum). The columns, made of Musso marble and
dating to the 2nd-3rd century AD, were originally part of a large Roman
public building - possibly a temple or baths - and were relocated here
in the 4th century to form a monumental atrium for the early Christian
basilica.
They remain one of the most evocative open-air
archaeological sites in the city, especially atmospheric at dusk when
the area fills with people.
69 Chiostri del Bramante
Largo Fra
Agostino Gemelli, 1 (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore)
Commissioned by Ludovico Sforza (il Moro) and designed by Donato
Bramante at the end of the 15th century for the former Cistercian
monastery of Sant’Ambrogio, these two cloisters are among the finest
Renaissance spaces in Milan. Only two of the four originally planned
cloisters were completed: one in the Doric order and the other in the
Ionic order.
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.
13 Peck
Via Spadari 9 (historic flagship near the Duomo; a short
walk from Piazza del Duomo), Milano
☎ +39 02 802 3161
Food lovers
exploring the Duomo area should make time for Peck, Milan’s legendary
temple of gastronomy and one of Italy’s grandest food and wine
emporiums. Founded in 1883 by Prague-born charcutier Francesco (Franz)
Peck as a small shop specializing in Central European-style smoked and
cured meats, it quickly became a favorite of Milan’s bourgeoisie and
even an official supplier to the House of Savoy. Over the decades it
passed through several owners, expanded dramatically under the Stoppani
brothers from 1970 onward, and has been owned by the Marzotto family
since 2013. Today it occupies multiple levels (roughly 3,300 square feet
of sales space plus extensive underground laboratories) and remains a
Milanese institution.
Often compared to Harrods Food Hall, Fauchon,
or the old Dean & DeLuca, Peck offers an extraordinary range of
high-quality delicacies, many produced in-house or carefully selected
from top Italian producers. Expect a vast “Casa del Formaggio” with more
than 250 cheeses (including house-made mozzarella, ricotta, and
specialty quiches), premium cured meats and salumi (including signature
house bresaola aged longer than usual), a butcher counter with excellent
veal and Chianina beef, fresh handmade pasta, prepared dishes such as
classic vitello tonnato, insalata russa, pâtés, and rotisserie items,
dozens of olive oils, seasonal produce, pastries, artisanal gelato, and
a deep wine cellar stocking thousands of labels (with many available by
the glass). Weekly menus change regularly, and many products carry the
Peck brand.
Prices reflect the exceptional quality and can be steep,
yet the counter-service format makes it easy to sample or buy small
quantities that fit almost any budget. The traditional purchasing ritual
is part of the experience: order at the various counters and collect a
receipt for each selection; once you have everything, pay at a central
checkout; then return to the counters where staff will have already
elegantly wrapped your purchases.
Beyond shopping, Peck offers places
to eat on-site (including the more casual Piccolo Peck for lunch,
aperitivo, or light meals amid the counters, plus higher-end options).
It is closed on Sundays, with Monday hours typically limited to the
afternoon and full hours Tuesday–Saturday. A second, more intimate Milan
location exists in Porta Venezia, and the brand also has a presence in
Japan and Singapore through a long partnership with Takashimaya.
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.
12. Teatro alla Scala
Via Filodrammatici 2 (easily reached by
metro lines MM1 and MM3 at Duomo station)
Tel: +39 02 88 79 1
One
of the world’s most legendary opera houses and a true symbol of Italian
musical culture. Opened in 1778 on the site of the former church of
Santa Maria alla Scala, it quickly became the epicenter of European
opera. After a major multi-year restoration that returned it to its
neoclassical glory, the theater reopened in 2004. Over the centuries it
has hosted towering figures such as Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti,
Enrico Caruso, and Arturo Toscanini. Today it remains one of the finest
places to experience Italian opera at the highest level, while also
presenting orchestral concerts, ballets, and other classical
performances. The adjoining museum offers a fascinating look at the
theater’s history, costumes, and famous singers.
13. Teatro Dal Verme
Via San Giovanni sul Muro 2
Email: dalverme@dalverme.org
A
historic Milanese venue primarily dedicated to classical music, chamber
concerts, and occasional opera or contemporary music events. Built in
the 19th century and carefully restored, it offers an intimate
alternative to the grandeur of La Scala.
14. Piccolo Teatro – Teatro
Grassi
Via Rovello 2
The original and most prestigious stage of
the Piccolo Teatro di Milano, founded by Giorgio Strehler and Paolo
Grassi in 1947. This is Italy’s first permanent public repertory theater
and remains a major center for high-quality drama, classical and modern
plays, and international productions.
15. Teatro della Canobbiana
(also known as Teatro Lirico)
Via Larga 14
A historic lyric
theater with roots in the late 18th century. After periods of closure
and restoration, it continues to host opera, ballet, and classical music
performances in an elegant setting near the center of Milan.
16.
Teatro dei Filodrammatici
Via Filodrammatici 1
A small, intimate
theater located just steps from La Scala. It focuses on contemporary
drama, experimental works, and high-quality spoken-word performances,
often featuring emerging Italian directors and actors.
17. Blue Note
Milano
Via Pietro Borsieri 37
Tel: +39 02 6901 6888
The
Milanese branch of the world-famous New York jazz club. This elegant
venue presents top international and Italian jazz, blues, and soul
artists in an intimate setting with excellent acoustics and a full
restaurant. The calendar is consistently packed with high-profile
concerts.
18. Volt
Via Molino delle Armi 16
A stylish
multi-purpose venue that hosts live music, DJ sets, and special events,
leaning toward electronic, indie, and contemporary sounds in a modern
atmosphere.
19. Superlove Club
Corso di Porta Ticinese 32
A
lively nightlife spot in the Navigli/Porta Ticinese area known for its
energetic atmosphere, electronic music, and late-night parties that
attract a young, fashionable crowd.
20. Vetra – Cocktail, Beer & Wine
Bar
Piazza Vetra 21A relaxed and stylish bar overlooking Piazza Vetra
(near the Basilica of San Lorenzo). It specializes in well-crafted
cocktails, a solid selection of beers and wines, and a pleasant outdoor
atmosphere—ideal for a pre- or post-show drink in a less touristy corner
of the city center.
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.
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.
Internet
The public Open WiFi Milano network (also known as
OpenWiFiMilano), run by the Municipality of Milan, offers free wireless
internet across the city, with particularly dense coverage in the
historic centre (Zona 1). Over 650 hotspots serve around 371 areas
citywide, including major squares, parks, streets, and public buildings.
In the historic centre you will find reliable access points at key
locations such as Piazza del Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II,
Piazza San Babila, Via Dante, Piazza Cordusio, Piazza Cadorna, Piazza
Castello, Parco Sempione, the Darsena, and stretches of the Navigli.
Registration is required for full internet access (email, social login,
or SPID). Once registered, the service generally allows unlimited
sessions with no daily data or time limits in covered zones. Indoor free
Wi-Fi is also available in all municipal libraries, registry offices,
and some museum spaces. Coverage maps and open data are published by the
Comune di Milano for the latest hotspot locations.