Top Ten Attractions
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The Duomo
The third largest cathedral in Europe. A magnificent marble façade and 135 spires. http://www.duomomilano.com
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La Scala
Milan’s world-famous opera house. Tickets are like gold dust, but give it a try. There’s also a Scala museum at another location in Milan. http://www.teatroallascala.org/public/LaScala/E...
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Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
A huge, glass-roofed shopping arcade with expensive stores, bars and restaurants.
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Castello Sforzesco
Milan’s castle, which houses a museum and art gallery. http://www.milanocastello.it
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Santa Maria delle Grazie
This church contains Leonardo da Vinci’s celebrated fresco, The Last Supper. Visits must be booked in advance: http://www.cenacolovinciano.org/english/index
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Sant’Ambrogio
The fourth century church of Milan’s patron saint, with many relics, carvings and mosaics. http://www.santambrogio-basilica.it
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Pinacoteca di Brera
Milan’s most prestigious art gallery with more than 600 works in 40 rooms. http://www.brera.beniculturali.it
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The Navigli
The city’s canal district – one of the best areas to stroll in the evening.
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Palazzo Reale
The Royal Palace is now home to a modern art gallery and a museum about the Duomo. http://www.ciaomilano.it/e/preale.asp
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The Fashion District
Milan is up there with Paris and London as a fashion capital. The main couture names are on vias Montenapoleone, Mazoni, della Spiga and Sant’Andrea.
Eating and Drinking
Strictly speaking, Italian cuisine doesn’t actually exist; instead, there are a host of regional variations. In Milan, it’s possible to sample not only the Milanese specialities, but also those from elsewhere in the country. Although Milan can be an expensive city, food prices are surprisingly reasonable and you can eat out very well on a modest budget. Milan has more than its fair share of pizzerias, grills, Tavola Calde (hot tables) and paninoteche, which serve light, rapidly-prepared lunches that can be eaten ‘on the hoof.’ Dinner is generally the most lavish meal and prior to eating, it’s customary to have an aperitif, of which there are countless types, including alcohol-free versions. Dinner usually consists of up to four courses: a starter (antipasta), a first course (primo), a second course (secondo) and a dessert (dolce) or cheese (formaggio) or fruit (frutta). The whole package is not compulsory – pick and choose which courses you can manage! Lombard cooking tends to be quality, fuss-free filling fare. Many Milanese dishes are cooked slowly, with stews and risottos dominating the menu. Look out for Risotto alla Milanese. Wine is the most popular option to accompany a meal and local wines provide the best value. Many restaurants close at least one day in the week and also during August.
Shopping
Milan’s bi-annual fashion shows have put the city firmly on the map in the clothing department and all the big name designers have branches here. As we mentioned above, the main designers are conveniently concentrated in one area around vias Montenapoleone, della Spiga, Sant’Andrea and Santo Spirito. In Via Montenapoleone and its side streets, you’ll see Milan’s most famous names such as Gucci, Armani, Versace and Valentino. There are more affordable shops and department stores around the Piazza dell Duomo. La Rinascente is the main store, but there are also numerous big chains (as well as more exclusive boutiques) along Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Corsa Buenos Aires, Corsa di Porta Romana and Corsa Vercelli. The Brera area is excellent for individual boutiques, especially for stylish footwear. Milan is also the capital of the Italian book trade and all the big publishing houses run their own bookshops here. Milan has several traditional markets. These include the Fiera di Senigallia, dealing in antiques and bric-a-brac. It’s held on Saturdays at the Darsena di Viale d’Annunzia. On the last Sunday of the month, the Mercatone dell’Antiquariato, an antiques fair-cum Milanese folk festival is held along the Ripa Ticinese and the Navigli Grande. And each third Saturday, except during August, the Mercatino dell’Antiquariato is held in the Brera’s cobbled Via Fiori Chiari.
Night Life
The Milanese after-dark scene is wide-ranging and changes continuously. There are atmospheres for all tastes and states of mind. The Milanese love variation and it often happens that a club transforms itself in a short time, changing from insignificant to cool. Clubs in Milan live on ‘word of mouth’ – all they need to do is attract a few opinion-leaders and they’re in business. The areas that have the most clubs are Porta Ticinese, Navigli and Porta Romana, but even if you are elsewhere and fancy a cocktail, there’s a club offering happy hour on almost every corner. The most famous disco in Milan – perhaps the best known in the whole of Italy – is Club Hollywood. Models, designers, actors and politicians all go there to see and be seen. Locals say the door selection is tough, though. Other clubs include Loollapalozaa, Alcatraz and Atlantique. The most celebrated venue for live music is Rolling Stone, known as the ‘Rock Temple of Milan.’ If clubs are not your scene, there are plenty of other options: bars, lounges, wine cellars, pubs, cafés, bistros, and lots more besides.
