Travel Guide to Milan, Italy

Though the visage of Milan is first of all determined by the modern architecture, in this city one can find a lot of historical places and points of interest. At first sight quite often appears a one-sided impression of the city. But in reality Milan is something more than an industrious metropolis: the closer you get to the center, the oftener you see marvelous old houses, churches and squares. To have a look on all the sights of Milan you'll need more than a day.

The Duomo Cathedral. The Duomo Cathedral is the main sight of Milan. The majestic cathedral of St Maria Nascent takes place in the very center of the city. It is one of the largest gothic cathedrals in the world: its height is 157m and width is 92m. The building works of the cathedral started in the 14th century and finished only after long time – in the 19th century. The cathedral can impress everyone's imagination not only by its front, but also by the interior. The mausoleums, the 5-meter bronze candlestick, wonderful chores, glass windows of the 16th century – this list of the objects that deserve your attention can be endless. From the roof of the building there is a catching panoramic view on Milan.

Unlike the cathedral, the building works of St Maria delle Grazie Church lasted only 25 years, the church dates the 15th century and is one of the most beautiful churches of the Renaissance. Later to the church they added a cloister, the main point of interest in which is surely the fresco by Leonardo da Vinci - 'The Last Supper', located in the former refectory. This great work was damaged and restored for many times, that's why nowadays the access to the masterpiece is limited: the entrance ticket has to be reserved at least for two day before the visit.

Basilica of St Ambrogio. Former episcope of Milan Ambrogio (the 4th century) is the patron of this city. The basilica that has his name is the oldest church in the city and is concerned to be the most beautiful due to its simplicity. The basilica is first of all famous for the sarcophagus of the Roman commander Stilico, the golden altar of the 9th century and the chapel St Vittore of the 5th century with golden mosaics under the cupola.

The art gallery of Brera. The art gallery of Brera is one of the best-known museums of Milan. It has the largest collection of Italian pictorial art. The most of the works used to belong to churches and cloisters and got there in the era of Napoleon. One of the most beautiful paintings of the gallery is 'Sposalizio' by Rafael, but The art gallery of Brera can offer you some works by other masters, such as Caravaggio, Rembrandt, van Dyck, Goya and El Greco.

The Sforzesco Castle. In the Sforzesco Castle take place a lot of museums. The paintings, furniture, sculptures, frescos, Egyptian mummies, ancient musical instruments and the monumental building itself are the very things that attract so many people in Sforzesco Castle. Around the castle there is a big garden, opened for visitors. Admission is free.

In the Poldi-Pezzoli Museum they keep the collection that was made by Poidi Pezzoli and presented to the city in 1881. The most famous painting is 'The Madonna and Child with an Angel' by Sandro Botticelli. The interior of the castle helps to feel the atmosphere of the 19th century.

The Gallery of Modern Art takes place in the gorgeous Villa Reale. There one can find works by Italian and French masters of the 2 last centuries. From the central Duomo Square one can easily get to the Gallery of Vittorio Emanuele II. In this gallery of the 19th century with glass cupolas take place the exclusive boutiques, posh restaurants and specialized shops. The building was created by Giuseppe Mengoni. He finished all the work, but unfortunately he didn't see how the building was unveiled: in 1878 he fell from the roof and died. Your special attention deserve not only the glass roofs, but also the amazing mosaics on the floor and the marvelous cupola over the central square that makes it one of the greatest sheltered squares in the world.

The Monumental Cemetery. To look at the Monumental Cemetery you should a little bit move to the north of Milan. The enormous complex is rich in historical and architectural monuments. The central building of the cemetery was projected by Maciachini in 1860-1897. The building has the neo-medieval style, but its architecture surely has something from Tuscan and Venetian styles. A lot of chapels and tombs make this cemetery some kind of an open-aired museum. The admission there is free.

La Scalia. La Scalia is one of the most famous opera houses not only in Italy, but all over the world. To perform of its stage is a high privilege for every opera singer. The interior looks more like the decoration of the cathedral than the outlook of the concert hall. By the way, the theatre was built on the place of the Church of St Maria delle Scalia. The theatre was badly damaged during the Second World War, but in 1946 in was again opened for public. In 2002-2004 the building was under restoration. The theatrical season opens every year on the 7th of December, the day of St Ambrogio – the patron of Milan.

Read more about Milan:
Restaurants and cuisine in Milan
Local traditions and lifestyle
'Must visit' places in Milan
Nightlife and attractions in Milan
Preparing for Milan: Advices
Milan photogallery